11. anger management Flashcards
what is anger management
therapeutic programme offered in prisons to identify triggers and allow offenders to deal with the situation in a positive and calm manner.
explain cognitive factors in relation to anger management (AO1)
cognitive factors trigger the emotional arousal which generally precedes aggressive acts.
becoming angry is reinforced by an individuals feeling of control within that situation.
anger management is a form of CBT - offenders recognise triggers and implement cognitive techniques that deal peacefully with the situation whilst avoiding anger.
what are the three stages of CBT for anger management
cognitive preparation
skill acquisition
application practice
what happens during cognitive preparation
the offender reflects on their past experience of anger and triggers.
the therapist will aim to identify if the response is irrational and aim to break an irrational automatic response in future.
what happens during skill acquisition
offenders introduced to a range of techniques and skills to help them deal with the triggers more effectively. for example:
cognitive skills = positive self talk.
behavioural = assertiveness training to help them communicate more effectively.
psychological = methods of relaxation and/or meditation.
what happens during application practice
offenders are given the opportunity to practice their skills within a monitored environment using role play. the successful response would be met with positive reinforcement from the therapist.
what evidence is there to support anger management - keen
the national anger management package was trailed in england and wales with offenders age 17 to 21.
there were initial issues of offenders not taking the course seriously and forgetting their routines but the programme was considered to be a success - offenders reported high levels of self control and increased awareness after the course.
what evidence is there against anger management - loza fanous
anger may not cause offending - fanous devised a psychometric test and discovered there was little difference between the violent and non violent offenders.
anger management courses may also give offenders an excuse or justification for their behaviour.
many crimes are also not motivated by anger such as financial crime and fraud.
what evidence is there against anger management - blackburn
limited long term effectiveness - there is little evidence that anger management reduces recidivism in the long term. this is mainly because the application stage is based on role play which does not cover all the possible situations in which a trigger can arise in real life.
the controlled role play scenarios are very different to a busy pub environment on a saturday night for example.
how is the eclectic approach a strength of anger management
anger management works on many levels such as cognitive for the identification and behavioural for the modification and social approach for the final stage - therefore it acknowledges the complexity of offending behaviour.
how does anger management differ from behavioural modification
anger management attempts to tackle the cause of criminal behaviour and not just the behaviour.
how does expense limit the effectiveness of anger management
requires highly trained specialists to deal with violent offenders and they have to be committed to the programme if it is to work.
