Dealing With Offending Behaviour: Anger Management

Question 1

What is anger management therapy?

Answer 1

Programme offered which allows offender to identify triggers and deal with anger provoking situations in a calm and positive manner.

Question 2

What are the 3 stages of anger management programmes?

Answer 2

Cognitive preparation.
Skills acquisition.
Application practice.

Question 3

In anger management therapy, what is meant by cognitive preparation?

Answer 3

Where offenders are asked to reflect on past experiences to identify triggers to their anger.
Cognitive restructuring also occurs during this stage.

Question 4

What is meant by cognitive restructuring?

Answer 4

Where the offender is encouraged to interpret anger provoking situations differently - during cognitive prep.

Question 5

In anger management therapy, what is meant by skills acquisition?

Answer 5

Where offender learns a range of techniques e.g breathing exercises to deal with anger provoking situations.

Question 6

What is the aim of skills acquisition in anger management therapy?

Answer 6

To learn techniques which help deal with anger provoking situations and Regulation of arousal - learning to control one’s physiological state.

Question 7

What different skills are learnt during skills acquisition in anger management therapy?

Answer 7

Cognitive - positive self talk.
Behavioural -learning how to communicate more effectively.
Physiological - dealing with reaction to anger e.g meditation.

Question 8

What did Keene et al find with anger management programmes?

Answer 8

-Looked at effects of ‘National Anger Management Package’ on young offenders.
-Offenders showed increase in awareness of anger and self control.

Question 9

Give one strength of anger management programmes.

Answer 9

Benefits may outlast those of behaviour modification.
Tackles root cause of offending - cognitive processes which lead to anger. BM only focuses on external behaviour.
Shows AM gives offenders insight into their criminality.
Likely to lead to permanent change.

Question 10

Give 2 weaknesses of anger management.

Answer 10

1. Dependent of individual factors.
   Howells et al: little overall impact compared to control group.
   Only significant impact on those with intense anger + those open to change.
   Shows offender must be motivated to change.
   Only benefits offenders who fit certain profile.
2. Unlikely to be available in all prisons.
   Requires highly trained specialist - expensive.
   Many may not have budget to facilitate.
   May not be realistic option for prisons due to its cost.