anger management Flashcards
Define anger management.
A therapeutic programme offered in prisons to identify triggers and allow offenders to deal with the situation in a positive and calm manner.
Idea is to reinforce control over the situation.
Why is cognitive behaviour therapy used for anger management?
Cognitive factors trigger the emotional arousal which generally precedes aggressive acts. Becoming angry is reinforced by an individuals feeling of control within that situation.
CBT - offenders recognise these triggers and implement cognitive techniques that deal peacefully with the situation whilst avoiding anger.
Name the three stages of CBT for anger management.
- Cognitive preparation.
- Skill acquisition.
- Application practise.
Describe the process of cognitive preparation.
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 the future.
Describe the process of skill acquisition.
Offenders are introduced to a range of techniques and skills to help them deal with the triggers more effectively.
Cognitive skills: positive self-talk.
Behavioural: assertiveness training to help them communicate more effectively.
Physiological: methods of relaxation and/or meditation.
Describe the process of application practise.
Offenders are given the opportunity to practise their skills within a monitored environment using role-play. The successful response would be met with positive reinforcement from the therapist.
Consider the findings of Keen et al (2000) as support for CBT.
The National Anger management Package was trailed in England and Wales with offenders aged 17-21. Although there were initial issues with offenders not taking the course seriously and forgetting their routines, the programme was considered to be a success. Offenders reported high levels of self control and increased awareness after the course.
Consider the the findings of Loza-Fanous (1999) as evidence against CBT.
Anger may not cause offending.
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 for their behaviour. Many crimes are also not motivated by anger - e.g. financial crime/fraud.
Consider long-term effectiveness as a limitation of CBT.
Refer to Blackburn (1993).
Limited long-term effects.
There is little evidence that anger management reduces recidivism in the long term. 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.
Consider the eclectic approach to CBT as 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.
Compare anger management to behaviour modification in terms of tackling the cause.
Unlike behaviour modification anger management attempts to tackle the cause of criminal behaviour, and not just the superficial surface behaviour.
Can assume that anger management more likely to lead to permanent behaviour change and lower rates of recidivism.
However, there are follow-up studies that don’t support this assumption.
(Blackburn 1993 as a counter argument).
Consider expense and commitment as a limitation 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.
