Forensics - anger management

Question 1

who suggested anger management as way of dealing with offenders

Answer 1

Novaco (1975)

Question 2

what did Novaco say about anger management

Answer 2

cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal that can cause aggressive acts, if can learn to manage that arousal then less aggression

Question 3

aims of anger management

Answer 3

identify signs that trigger anger and learn techniques to calm down

Question 4

what type of treatment is anger management and how does it help

Answer 4

CBT, re-trains thought patterns by identifying emotional, cognitive and behavioural patterns that are destructive

Question 5

what are the three stages of anger management

Answer 5

1. cognitive preparation
2. skills acquisition
3. application process

Question 6

what is the cognitive preparation stage

Answer 6

reflect on past behaviour and identify triggers and typical patterns of anger. redefine events as non-threatening by challenging irrational thoughts

Question 7

what is the skills acquisition stage

Answer 7

taught a range of skills to help deal with situations rationally e.g. positive self-talk, meditation, learning effective communication

Question 8

what is the application process stage

Answer 8

role play situations with therapist. when handled well, gets positive reinforcement

Question 9

Keen et al (2004)

Answer 9

studied progress of young offenders taking anger management course over 8 sessions. found there was an increase in self-awareness and ability to control anger

Question 10

Ireland (2004)

Answer 10

92% improvement in behaviour of offenders who engaged with anger management compared to those who hadn’t

Question 11

strengths of anger management

Answer 11

+ research support
+ more effective long term than token economies (behaviour modification) as tackles root cause and teaches transferable skills for life outside prison

Question 12

limitations of anger management

Answer 12

• support came from research that relied on self-reports from prisoners. more likely social desirability bias -> overreport acts of violence to make them seem more threatening
• requires commitment from prisoners
• lacks mundane realism, may not reduce recidivism in the long term (Blackburn)
• expensive as need trained professionals
• not all crimes have anger at the heart of them