Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Oct 2022)

A Study on Intergenerational Transmission of Dark Triad and Emotion Reactivity

  • Li W,
  • Cong X,
  • Fan Z,
  • Li F

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 2941 – 2956

Abstract

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Wei Li,1 Xiangxin Cong,1 Zhiguang Fan,1 Fei Li2 1Department of Education, Jilin International Studies University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Marxism, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhiguang Fan, Department of Education, Jilin International Studies University, 3658 Jingyue Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130117, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-0431-84924101, Fax +86 1 594-831-4623, Email [email protected]: Moderate emotion reactivity in the face of daily stress is of positive significance regarding individuals’ psychological well-being and environmental adaptation. The study on intergenerational transmission of Dark Triad and emotion reactivity has confirmed the existence of higher levels of Dark Triad and emotion reactivity in college students in the Chinese sample, which may provide a reference for future related studies.Purpose: The study examined the intergenerational transmission effects of Dark Triad and Emotion Reactivity in families. And based on this, it further analyzed the mediating role of parental emotion reactivity and children’s Dark Triad in the influence of parental Dark Triad on children’s emotion reactivity.Methods: The questionnaire was administered to 486 families inclusive of fathers, mothers, and children utilizing the Emotion Reactivity Scale (ERS) and the Dirty Dozen (DD).Results: 1) The intergenerational transmission was presented in the three Dark Triad traits and emotion reactivity. 2) The level of Dark Triad and emotion reactivity of children was remarkably higher than that of their parents. 3) The Dark Triad scores of males were considerably higher than those of females, while there were no significant differences in the scores of emotion reactivity between them. 4) The actor and partner effects of Dark Triad and emotion reactivity between father and mother were established. 5) Parental emotion reactivity and children’s Dark Triad exerted mediating effects on the impact of parental Dark Triad on children’s emotion reactivity.Conclusion: The effect of parental three Dark Triad on their children’s emotion reactivity as well as its mediation mechanism were examined respectively by the present study in the light of APIM and intergenerational transmission analysis. It was concluded that the findings carried both theoretical and reference value for developing moderate emotion reactive ability toward college students.Keywords: Dark Triad, emotion reactivity, intergenerational transmission, APIM, mediating effect

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