Dark Skills and Moral Gaps: Prevalence of Emotional Manipulation, Aggression, Empathy, and Self-Serving Cognitions in Adults

Abstract

The purpose of the current research study was to find the prevalence of trait emotional manipulation, aggression, empathy, and self-serving cognitive distortions in adults. A sample of 575 adults aged 18 years was recruited via a convenience sampling technique from the adult population of Punjab. Scales used to collect data were the Emotional Manipulation Ability Scale (Jane & Grieve, 2014), the State-Trait-Anger-Expression-Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) (Spielberger, 1988), the Basic Empathy Scale (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006), and the ICP Cognitive Distortions Scale-Urdu (Shakeel, 2014). The reliability of the Urdu version of STAXI-II is .90, Emotional Manipulation Ability Scale is .83, reliability of empathy is .84, and the self-serving cognitive distortions is .90. Prevalence results indicates that 73.0% participants have aggression, 60.7% participants have trait emotional manipulation, 87.0% participants have empathy, and 60.7% participants have Self-serving cognitive distortions. These findings have implications for both research and practice, highlighting the importance of considering these psychological constructs in interventions aimed at promoting mental well-being and fostering healthy interpersonal relationships within the population.