12. behaviour management: anger management Flashcards
1. COGNITIVE PREPARATION
the offender reflects on past experience and consider
the typical pattern of their anger.
Novaco suggests that cognitive factors trigger the emotional arousal which causes aggressive acts. He argues in some people, anger is
often quick to surface especially in situations that seem to be threatening.
In behaviourist terms, becoming angry is reinforced by the individual’s feeling of control in that situation.
Anger management is a form of CBT - the individual is taught how to recognise
cognitive factors that trigger their anger and loss of control and are encouraged to develop techniques which bring conflict resolution without the need for violence.
There are 3 stages of anger management:
- COGNITIVE PREPARATION
- SKILLS ACQUISITION
- APPLICATION PRACTICE
1. COGNITIVE PREPARATION
The offender learns to identify situations which act as triggers and
if the way they interpret the event is irrational, the therapist redefines the situation as non-threatening and attempts to break that may be an automatic response for the offender.
2 . SKILLS ACQUISITION
The offenders are introduced to a range of techniques and skills to help them deal with anger provoking situations more rationally and effectively:
cognitive, behavioural, physiological
Cognitive – positive self-talk to encourage calmness, e.g. counting to 10.
Behavioural – assertiveness training in how to communicate more effectively will become an automatic response if practiced regularly.
Physiological – deal with the physical reaction to anger such as using relaxation training or medication to control one’s emotions.
3 . APPLICATION PRACTICE
Offenders are given the opportunity to practice their skills within a carefully controlled environment. Such role play is likely to involve
the offender and the therapist re-enacting scenarios that may have escalated feelings of anger and acts of violence in the past.
If the offender deals with the role play successfully the therapist gives them positive reinforcement.
AO3: strength of anger management
BETTER THAN BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
Anger management’s benefits may outlast those of behaviour modification.
Unlike behaviour modification, anger management tries to tackle one of the causes of offending – the cognitive processes that trigger anger and ultimately offending behaviour. Alternative treatments such as behaviour modification only deal with surface behaviour and not the processes that drive such behaviour. Experience of anger management may give offenders new insight into the cause of their criminality and allow them to self-discover ways of managing themselves outside of the prison setting.
This means that anger management is more likely than behaviour modification to prevent permanent behaviour change.
AO3: limitation of anger management
EXPENSIVE
Anger management is likely to be an expensive option.
They are expensive to run as they require the services of highly trained specialists who are used to dealing with violent offenders. Many prisons do not have the resources to fund such programmes. In addition, the success of anger management programmes is often based on the commitment of those who participate, this may be a problem if the prisoners are negative and apathetic. Change takes time and this is ultimately likely add to the expense of delivering effective anger management programmes.
This suggests that effective anger management programmes are probably not going to work in most prisons.
AO3: limitation of anger management
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES - howells
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Success of anger management depends on individual factors.
Howells conducted an investigation with Australian offenders and found that participation in an anger management programme had little overall impact when compared to a control group who received no treatment. However, offenders who had showed intense levels of anger before the programme did make significant progress. Offenders who were highly motivated and ready for change also experienced high gains.
This suggests that anger management may only benefit offenders who fit a certain profile
