Anger in prisoners

• Why is anger management important for prisoners?

  Prisons can act as "anger factories" due to factors like violent inmates, overcrowding, and lack of autonomy (Novaco, 2013). Managing anger is crucial to improving prison behavior and reducing reoffending.
• What are the two key aims of anger management in offenders?

  1. Short-term aim – Reducing anger and aggressive behavior within the prison environment.
  2. Long-term aim – Rehabilitation and reducing recidivism (reoffending), particularly for violent offenders.
• What is hostile attribution bias, and how does it relate to anger?

  • Hostile attribution bias is a tendency to misinterpret others' behavior as threatening or negative, even when it is neutral.
  • Example: If someone smiles at an offender, they may assume it is a mocking or sarcastic smile rather than a friendly one.
  • This irrational thinking can lead to anger and aggressive responses
• How does cognitive therapy help manage anger?

  The goal is to change how offenders perceive and respond to anger-inducing situations. While situations cannot always be changed, thoughts and behaviors can.