The series of studies aim to understand how and why individuals with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) are at heightened risk for violent criminal behaviour (VCB) and illustrate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the elevated propensity across both general and forensic populations. While extant literature has established emotional dysregulation (ED) as a central etiological factor in IED-related aggression and violent behaviour, our investigation proposes that maladaptive cognitive schema—specifically, cognitive distortion (CD) constitute a critical yet under-explored mediator. These distortions not only exacerbate aggressive responses to perceived provocations but also provide cognitive justification for violent acts, thereby bridging the theoretical gap between affective dysregulation and behavioural outcomes.


This research project, which will be carried out based on a dual population approach, consists of three interrelated studies and systematically examines the IED → ED → CD → VCB pathway in two distinct cohorts. The first cohort, drawn from the general population, focuses on identifying foundational mechanisms of aggression in everyday contexts (e.g., interpersonal conflicts, workplace violence) and assessing cultural variability between the UK and China. The second cohort, comprising a forensic population, investigates how systemic stressors such as chronic trauma amplify or modify this pathway in high-risk individuals with severe, institutionalised aggression.