Purpose of review <p>This review aims to summarize the literature on cognitive and social-emotional factors that contribute to impulsive aggression in schizophrenia. Understanding the contributions of these potentially modifiable contributors to aggression highlights new targets for managing aggression.</p> Recent findings <p>Aggression is a complex behavior that is heterogenous in origin and expression. Current research suggests that there are various cognitive and social-emotional factors that contribute to aggressive acts in schizophrenia. Cognitive dysfunction and ineffective strategies utilized to regulate emotion (e.g., use of emotional suppression instead of cognitive reappraisal strategies) are amongst the cognitive factors that impact aggression. Social-emotional factors include a negative emotional bias for ambiguous facial expressions, impaired empathic reasoning, impaired attention to social cues in interactions, and the attribution of hostile intentions to others as the cause of negative events. Alexithymia may also play a role in aggression by impacting emotion regulation and impulse control in schizophrenia.</p> Summary <p>The current paper proposes a model that highlights the moderating role of cognitive and social-emotional contributors to impulsive aggression. Assessment of these factors can aid efforts at identifying individuals with schizophrenia who are at risk of engaging in aggressive acts during provocation.</p>