anger management (cognitive behavioural treatment)

Question 1

what is the aim of CBT

Answer 1

to look at irrational and faulty thinking patterns, emotional and behavioural, and challenge them

Question 2

what is anger

Answer 2

it is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for aggression and violent-crime

Question 3

why is anger such an issue in the prison population

Answer 3

• anger is such a strong predictor of aggression (not all the time)
• anger linked with how well people get along in a prison (prison adjustment)

Question 4

what do anger management programmes assume

Answer 4

• that anger is the primary cause of violent behaviour and once criminals can learn to control this anger bad behaviour in prison will decrease
• that control of this anger will reduce recidivism rates

Question 5

what is recidivism

Answer 5

likeliness to reoffend after a sanction or intervention (prison or fine)

Question 6

what problems has CBT shown to be affective for

Answer 6

-depression
-anxiety disorders
-alcohol and drug abuse
-marital problems
-eating disorders
-anger

Question 7

what are the 3 core areas of CBT

Answer 7

• relaxation techniques:
  to slow down heart rate due to anger
• cognitive restructuring:
  retrain thought patterns to more desirable thought patterns
• assertiveness training:
  deal with the behavioural element of anger

Question 8

what are the aims of the National Anger Management Package

Answer 8

• to increase their awareness of the process by which they become angry
• to raise their awareness of the need to monitor their behaviour
• to educate them in the benefits of controlling their anger
• to improve techniques on anger management
• to allow them to practice anger management during role plays

Question 9

how are the aims of anger management programmes met

Answer 9

• over 8 2 hour sessions
• the first 7 of these being over a 2-3 week period and then the final session a month afterwards

Question 10

what is the main anger management course used in prisons

Answer 10

• Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it (CALM)

Question 11

how is CALM conducted

Answer 11

• consists of 24 2 hour sessions
• the members learn to how to reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of anger so that aggression become a lower likelihood
• the sessions occur on a regular and frequent basis

Question 12

what is the ‘syllabus’ of CALM

Answer 12

• well-structured and allows members to progress step-by-step
• includes personal assignments, role-modelling, teamwork and self and peer evaluation

Question 13

who is CALM particularly catered towards

Answer 13

• adolescent and young adult males who are prone to violence although it isn’t confined only to males

Question 14

how many stages are there for CALM

Answer 14

6

Question 15

what is the first stage of CALM

Answer 15

• motivating change in patients

Question 16

what is the second stage of CALM

Answer 16

• learn the biological explanations of anger and the physiological process of anger to create a better understanding

Question 16

what is the third stage of CALM

Answer 16

• patients thoughts that may be contributing to their anger

Question 17

what is the fourth stage of CALM

Answer 17

• learn skills to aid in controlling anger e.g. breathing techniques

Question 18

what is the fifth stage of CALM

Answer 18

• practice applying the skills learnt into scenarios that may make the patient angry

Question 19

what is the sixth stage of CALM

Answer 19

• prevention methods to keep them out of situations most likely to make them angry

Question 20

what is the hot cross bun formation

Answer 20

• its a simple formulation that is used in CBT to develop self awareness of how our thoughts, emotions, physical state and behaviour all influence each other

Question 21

what does anger management tend to focus on

Answer 21

• triggers of an aggressive outburst and how that can be changed
• addressing abnormal thinking patterns that affect these outbursts

Question 22

how many steps are there to anger management programmes

Answer 22

3

Question 23

what is the first stage for AM programmes

Answer 23

• cognitive preparation
  involves the offender reflecting on their past triggers and if they could have reacted differently this may be done by anger diaries

Question 24

what is the second stage of AM programmes

Answer 24

• skill acquisition
  involves offenders being taught a range of behavioural techniques to help them cope in provoking situations e.g. counting to ten
  this promotes calmness rather than aggression

Question 25

what is the third stage of AM programmes

Answer 25

• application and practice
  involves the therapist devising situations e.g. reconstructing events that have triggered the offender in the past, so the offender can demonstrate the skills learnt

Question 26

what did ireland (2000) find

Answer 26

• those who completed CALM (50) reported to be less angry than controls (37), 92% in experimental condition showed improvement in anger

Question 27

what did hunter (1993) find

Answer 27

• found the treatment group showed significant change compared to controls especially in areas such as, depression and interpersonal problems

Question 28

what did Escamilla (1998) find

Answer 28

• 25% of 16 offenders were not reconvicted in the first year after completing group intervention, however 50% did get reconvicted although this wasn’t for aggressive crimes

Question 29

what is Dobash (2000) find

Answer 29

• two thirds out of 122 men stopped using violence after 1 year of court mandated programmes

Question 30

what is the cost of CALM, is it available on the NHS

Answer 30

• £100 per CALM session
• £85 for other programmes
• it is available on the NHS however only occurs in small groups

Question 31

does CBT address the root cause of just mask symptoms

Answer 31

• addresses the root cause as it focuses on the triggers and how to control them
• unlike hormone therapy

Question 32

what percentage of people drop out of AM due to the time it takes

Answer 32

30%