Anger management

Question 1

What does AM do?

Answer 1

teaches relaxation techniques to help deal with anger response

Question 2

What does Novaco say about AM?

Answer 2

• it assumes offending is caused by inability to control anger
• anger can allow an individual to feel in control of a situation

Question 3

What are the 3 parts of AM with CBT?

Answer 3

physiological, cognitive and behavioural

Question 4

What is the first stage of anger management?

Answer 4

Cognitive preparation — seeing triggers, feelings and thoughts they had

Question 5

What is the second stage of AM?

Answer 5

Skill acquisition - things to calm you down, mindfulness techniques

Question 6

What is the third stage of AM?

Answer 6

Application practice - role-play scenarios to practice AM skills

Question 7

How is AM used?

Answer 7

in groups or 1-1 - usually for around 10 sessions

Question 8

Strengths:

Answer 8

• long term improvements - change cognitions and develop skills - useful for lowering crime rates
• Ireland - studied 87 male offenders - 50 received AM and 37 did not - 92% of prisoners in AM group showed reduced aggressive behaviours whilst no reduction in control - valid

Question 9

Weaknesses:

Answer 9

• programme can be expensive and only small groups of people will do it - limits usefulness if not many people use it
• requires motivation and being literate - 64% of offenders have a literacy age of 11 compared to 15% in population - may not be useful at managing anger