Emotional Maturity and Aggressive Behavior: The Role of Self-Control as a Mediator

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Surabaya— Emotional Maturity and Self-Control Proven to Reduce Aggressive Behavior Among Brimob Officers. Research conducted by Muh. Fauzan Nofriansyah Putra and Dyan Evita Santi, lecturers at the University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, was published in the Journal of Educational Analytics (JEDA).

The research, conducted by Muh. Fauzan Nofriansyah Putra and Dyan Evita Santi, revealed that emotional maturity and self-control play a crucial role in suppressing aggressive behavior among Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members. The study, conducted in 2025 and published in 2026, emphasized that strengthening psychological aspects is key to the professionalism of officers in the field.

Field Pressure and the Risk of Aggression

Brimob officers work under constant pressure. They are frequently exposed to threats, public provocation, and unpredictable situations that demand rapid responses. In such conditions, emotional instability can easily trigger aggressive reactions.

The researchers note that aggression does not always appear as physical violence. Verbal hostility, excessive defensiveness, and impulsive decision-making are also forms of aggressive behavior. If left unmanaged, these tendencies can harm individual performance, damage institutional reputation, and weaken public trust.

For this reason, understanding the psychological factors that can suppress aggression has become an urgent priority for law enforcement management.

Key Findings

The analysis revealed strong and consistent relationships among emotional maturity, self-control, and aggression. The main findings can be summarized as follows:

• Emotional maturity reduces aggression
  Officers who understand and regulate their emotions show lower levels of aggressive behavior.
• Emotional maturity strengthens self-control
  Higher emotional maturity is associated with greater ability to restrain impulses.
• Self-control significantly suppresses aggression
  Personnel with strong self-control are better at managing anger and avoiding excessive reactions.
• Self-control acts as a central mediator
  Most of the influence of emotional maturity on aggression occurs through improved self-control.

Statistically, all relationships were highly significant. This means the findings reflect real psychological patterns rather than random variation.

Why Self-Control Matters

According to the researchers, self-control functions as a “psychological brake” in stressful situations. When emotions intensify, individuals with strong self-control are able to pause, assess the consequences, and choose appropriate responses.

In Brimob operations, this ability is essential. Decisions made within seconds can affect public safety, legal outcomes, and institutional credibility. Without adequate self-control, the risk of disproportionate use of force increases.

“Emotional maturity helps officers recognize their feelings early, while self-control ensures their reactions remain professional,” the authors explain in their discussion.

Implications for Institutions and Society

The findings have broad implications for law enforcement agencies and public policy.

For institutions, the study shows that physical and technical training alone is insufficient. Psychological development must become a core component of personnel management. Training programs that focus on emotional regulation, stress management, and self-control are more effective in building long-term professionalism.

For society, the research offers hope for more humane and accountable law enforcement. Officers who are emotionally stable tend to act more fairly, patiently, and proportionately.

From a policy perspective, the results can serve as a foundation for developing national standards on psychological training in police units, especially special forces.

Practical Recommendations

Based on their findings, Fauzan and Santi propose several strategic steps:

1. Integrate emotional regulation training into Brimob education programs
2. Conduct regular self-control development workshops
3. Provide psychological counseling for high-risk personnel
4. Include psychological evaluation in performance assessments

They emphasize that preventive, psychology-based interventions are more effective than reactive disciplinary measures.

Author Profiles

• Muh. Fauzan Nofriansyah Putra, M.Psi._Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya
• Dyan Evita Santi, M.Psi._Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya

Research Source

Muh. Fauzan Nofriansyah Putra, Dyan Evita Santi. Emotional Maturity and Aggressive Behavior: The Role of Self-Control as a Mediator
Journal of Educational Analytics (JEDA) Volume: 5, Nomor 1, 2026, halaman 1–12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jeda.v5i1.607
URL: https://nblformosapublisher.org/index.php/jeda