Dealing with offending behaviour: Anger management Flashcards
CBT
The individual is taught how to recognise the cognitive factors that trigger their anger and loss of control, and then encouraged to develop techniques which bring about conflict resolution without the need for violence.
The aim of anger management isn’t to prevent anger but to recognise it and manage it.
Three stages
Cognitive preparation
Skills acquisition
Application practice
cognitive preparation
requires an offender to reflect on past experiences and consider the typical pattern of their anger. The offender learns to identify those situations which act as triggers to anger, and if the way the offender interprets the event is irrational, the therapists role is to make this clear.
skills acquisition
offenders are introduced to a range of techniques and skills to help deal with anger provoking situations more effectively.
- Cognitive – positive self-talk to encourage calmness
- Behavioural – assertiveness training in how to communicate more effectively
- Physiological – deal with the physical reaction to anger such as meditation
application practice
offenders are given the chance to practise their skills within a carefully controlled environment. If the offender deals with the role play successfully the therapist provides positive reinforcement.
Positive outcomes with young offenders
Keen et al (2000) has studied the progress made with young offenders aged between 17 and 21 who took part in a nationally recognised anger management programme. The course comprises 8 two-hour sessions. Although there were initial issues with offenders not taking the course seriously, the final outcomes were generally positive. Offenders reported increased awareness of their anger management difficulties and an increased capacity to exercise self-control.
Evaluation of anger management (brief)
strength - benefits may outlast behaviour modification
weakness - individual factors
weakness - expensive
strength of anger management
the benefits of anger management may outlast those of behaviour modification. Anger management tries to tackle the cognitive processes that trigger anger and ultimately offending. Alternative treatments such as behaviour modification only deal with surface behaviours. Experience of anger management may give offenders new insight into the cause of their criminality and allow them to self-discover ways of managing themselves outside the prison setting. This suggests that anger management is more likely than behaviour modification to lead to permanent behavioural change. However Blackburn points out that there is very little evidence that it reduces recidivism in the long term. Any progress made in therapy may count for very little when compared to a busy city centre pub on a Saturday night. This suggests that, in the end, anger management may not reduce reoffending.
weaknesses of anger management
success may depend on individual factors. A study by Howells et al (2005) conducted an investigation with Australian offenders. It was found that participation in anger management had little overall impact when compared to a control group who received no treatment. However, significant process was made with those offenders who had showed intense levels of anger before the programme and those who were open to change and highly motivated. This suggests that anger management may only benefit offenders who fit a certain profile.
anger management is expensive. Anger management programmes require the services of highly-trained specialists who are used to dealing with violent offenders. For this reason, many prisons do not have the resources to fund such programmes. Change takes time and this is ultimately likely to add to the expense of delivering effective programmes. In addition, the success of anger management is often based on the commitment of those who participate, and may be a problem if prisoners are uncooperative. This suggests that effective anger management programmes are probably not going to work in most prisons.
