anger management Flashcards
Anger management
A therapeutic programme that involves identifying the signs that trigger anger as well as learning techniques to calm down and deal with the situation in a positive way
CBT
Cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal (anger) that comes before aggression, so clients recognise triggers and develop skills to resolve conflicts
Cognitive preparation
Offenders reflect on past experience and what causes them anger
Skills acquisition
Offenders learn techniques to deal with anger-provoking situations more rationally and effectively
- Cognitive - positive self-talk
- Behavioural - communication skills
- Physiological - relaxation techniques
Application practice
Practise skills through role play, for example
Positive reinforcement
Positive outcome with young offenders
Keen at al - studied progress made by younger offenders between 17 and 21 - initial issues with not taking course seriously and forgetting routines - outcome was positive
- Increased awareness and capacity of self-control
EVAL - Better than behaviour modification
P - strength as benefits outlast those of behaviour modification
E - tackles one of the causes of offending - alternative treatments such as behaviour modification deal with only surface behaviour
E - experience of anger management may give offenders new insight into the cause of their criminality and allow them to discover ways of managing themselves outside of prison setting
L - anger management is more likely than behaviour modification to lead to permanent behavioural change
P - however - follow up studies do not support assumption
E - Blackburn - anger management has noticeable effect in short term - little evidence that it reduces recidivism in long term
E - application phase of treatment relies on role play - not reflect triggers in real life situation
L - anger management may not reduce reoffending
EVAL - Individual differences
P - limited as success depends on individual factors
E - Howells et al - investigation with Australian offenders - researchers found that participation in programme had little overall impact when compared to control group
E - not true all offenders - significant progress made with those offenders showed intense levels of anger before - also those open to change and highly motivated
L - suggests anger management may not benefit offenders who fit a certain profile
EVAL - Expensive
P - limited as likely to be expensive option
E - expensive to run as require highly-trained specialists used to dealing with violent offenders - prisons may not have resources
E - success is based on commitment of participants so issue if prisoners uncooperative and apathetic - change takes time adding to expense
L - effective anger management programmes not going to work in most prisons
EVAL - Anger and offending
P - straight forward relationship between anger and offending
E - anger assumed to be important antecedent to offending in that it produces the emotional state necessary to commit crime
E - however - Loza and Loza-Fanous found no difference in levels of anger between offenders who were violent and non-violent
L - anger management programmes misguided as they provide offenders with a justification for behaviour
