anger management

• anger management

  • used to reduce anger and aggression in prisons in short term + rehabilitate and reduce recidivism in long term
  • form of cbt
• key aims (identified by Novaco)

  • cognitive restructuring - self awareness and control over anger
  • regulation of arousal - learning to control physiological state
  • behavioural strategies - problem soling, strategic withdrawal
• stress inoculation model

  1. cognitive preparation - learn about anger generally, identify situations provoking anger
  2. skills acquisition - taught to manage eg. self regulation and relaxation, and communication skills to resolve conflicts
  3. application training - apply skills in role play, feedback from therapist and group members, try in real world settings
• success of anger management programmes

  Taylor and Novaco

  • 75% improvement based on 6 analyses
  • BUT Law reported a study where only one person improved

  mixed findings make it hard to draw clear conclusions about effectiveness
• problems with research

  methods used are variable

  • some last just days, others years. some research by psychologists, others by less experienced prison staff
  • also variability in anger management programmes (some target wider behavioural problems
  • many use self report - social desirability bias, want to be helpful

  diffs make it hard to draw clear conclusions
• limitations of anger management programmes

  high drop out rate

  • CBT not for everyone, some offenders don't like to reflect in styles of their thinking, difficult to make effort to change
  • alternative - drama based courses, less reliant on verbal activity
  • cope with dropout rate - assess readiness to change (no wating time with those who won't benefit)

  should be targeted at who would actually complete course
• short vs long term goals


  most assessments of success focus on short term goals of reducing aggression in prison

  • few look at long term recidivism rates - hard to follow up
  • McGuire lokes at studies and found instances on reduction in reoffending after one year compared to indvs on probation

  so, should be more focus on how anger controlled in long term