Anger management

• What is anger management

  A therapeutic programme that involves identifying the signs that trigger anger as well as learning techniques to calm down and deal with the situation in a positive way
• 3 stages of anger management (Novaco)

  1. Cognitive Preparation
  2. Skills Acquisition
  3. Application Practice
• what happens in the Cognitive Preparation stage

  Offender reflects on past experiences to identify triggers and the irrationality of their anger
• what happens in the Skills Acquisition stage

  Learning relaxation techniques, positive self talk and communication strategies to control anger

  Cognitive, behavioural and physiological techniques
• what happens in the Application Practice stage

  Practising new skills through role-play in controlled situations to reinforce learning
• mnemonic to remember stages of anger management

  Calm People Should Avoid Angry People
• Cognitive, behavioural and physiological techniques of relaxation

  Cognitive- positive self talk, counting to 10

  Behavioural- communication skills

  Physiological- relaxation training, meditation
• Research support for anger management programmes

  Keen et al. (2000)

  • young offenders 17-21yrs old
  • Took part in anger management programmes developed by England & Wales Prison Service
  • 8 2hr sessions- 7 over a 3 week period, 8th a month after
  • Followed the 3 stages

  = final outcomes were generally positive. Offenders reported increased awareness of their anger management difficulties And an increased capacity to exercise self control
• what were the initial issues in keen et al’s study

  Offenders not taking the course seriously, individuals forgetting routines such as the requirement to bring their diary
• Strength of anger management - Better than Token Economies

  • tackles the causes of the offending while token economies deal with surface behaviour
  • experience with anger management may give offenders new insight into the cause of their criminality and allow them to discover ways of managing themselves outside the prison setting

  = more likely than behaviour modification to lead to permanent behaviour change
• Counterpoint to anger management being better than behaviour management

  Blackburn (1993): while anger management may have a noticeable effect on offenders in the short term, there is very little evidence that it reduces recidivism in the long term

  • may be because the application of anger management relies on role play which may not properly reflect the possible triggers in the real world
• Limitation of anger management- Individual differences

  Howells et al. (2005)

  • Australian Offenders
  • Participation in anger management programme had little overall impact compared to control group (no treatment)
  • not true for all offenders - significant progress made by those who showed intense levels of anger and those who were open to change and highly motivated
• Limitation of anger management- Expensive

  • require highly trained specialists who are used to dealing with violent offenders
  • many prisons may not have the resources to fund the program
  • success is based on commitment of individuals
  • changes take time which adds to the expense