anger management

• cognitive behaviour therapy -

  • Novaco (1975) suggests cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal which generally precedes aggressive acts - anger quick to surface especially in situations that are anxiety inducing or threatening
  • behaviourist terms - becoming angry is reinforced by individuals feeling of control in that situation
  • anger management programmes are form of CBT - taught how to recognise cognitive factors that trigger anger and loss of control - develop techniques of conflict resolution without need for violence
• 3 stages of anger management -

  1. cognitive preparation - offender reflects on past experience and consider typical pattern of anger - offender learns to identify triggers and therapist shows how they're irrational
  2. skills acquisition - skills to deal with anger-provoking situations - can be cognitive (positive self talk), behavioural (communication), physiological (meditation)
  3. application practice - practicing skills in carefully controlled environment - role play may involve re-enacting scenarios that caused anger in past
• positive outcome with young offenders -

  • keen et al (2000) - studied progress of young offenders (17-21) - took part in nationally recognised anger management programme
  • national anger management package developed by England and Wales prison service - 8 2-hour sessions, 7 over 3-week period and last session a month later
  • after initial issues - final outcomes generally positive
  • offenders reported increased awareness of their anger management difficulties and increased capacity to exercise self-control