Anger management

• Anger management

  Therapeutic programme that involves identifying signs that trigger anger and learning techniques to calm down and deal with a situation in a positive way

  • based on CBT
  • Taught how to recognise cognitive factors that trigger anger + loss of control
• Aim of anger management

  To recognise and manage anger
• 3 stages of anger management

  • Cognitive preparation
  • Skill acquisition
  • application practice
• 1. cognitive preparation

  offender reflects on past experience and consider the pattern of their anger.

  identify situations that act as triggers and if their thinking is irrational.

  therapist makes this clear
• 2. skills acquisition

  offenders introduced to techniques and skills to help deal with anger-provoking situations

  uses cognitive, behavioural and physiological techniques
• cognitive techniques

  positive self-talk to encourage calmness.
• behavioural techniques

  assertiveness training in how to communicate effectively, will become an automatic response if practiced regularly
• physiological techniques

  deal with physical reaction to anger using relaxation training or meditation. control emotions instead of being controlled by them
• 3. application practice

  offenders given opportunity to practice their skills in a controlled environment.

  Re-enact scenarios with the therapist that previously brought about anger.
• Strength - positive outcome with young offenders

  • Keen et al
  • studied progress in offenders age 17-21 who took part in a nationally recognised anger management programme
  • Initial issues of not taking the course seriously
  • final outcomes generally positive
  • offenders reported increased awareness of their anger management difficulties and increased capacity of self control
• Strength - better than behaviour modification


  AM tackles causes of offending - cognitive processes that trigger anger and therefore offending behaviour. Let offenders self-discover ways of managing behaviour.

  BM only deals with surface behaviour and not what causes the behaviour.

  AM more permanent.
• Counterpoint - better than BM

  Little evidence that AM reduces recidivism in the long term.

  Application stage of treatment relies on roleplay which doesn't reflect all possible triggers in real-world situations.
• Limitation - individual differences

  • investigation on Australian offenders.
  • AM programme had little impact when compared to control group with no treatment.
  • Not true for all offenders.
  • Significant progress in offenders who had high anger before the program and who were highly motivated from the beginning.
  • Only benefits offenders from a certain profile.
• Limitation - expensive

  • expensive to run as they require highly trained specialists.
  • many prisons may not have the resources to provide this.
• Strength - research evidence (Ireland)

  • compared progress of 2 groups of offenders - one took part in anger management and the others were a control.
  • Treatment group completed 12 sessions and then were assessed using 3 measures - interview, behaviour checklist, questionnaire.
  • 92% improved in at least one measure. 48% improved in checklist + self-report.
  • No improvements in control group.