Paper 3 - Forensic Psychology - Anger Management

Question 1

What is Anger Management?

Answer 1

Anger management is a programme that involves identifying the signs that trigger anger as well as learning techniques to calm down and deal with the situation in a positive way
Eg to recognise and manage anger

Question 2

What previous theory can be adapted to anger management?

Answer 2

CBT

Question 3

Who created the CBT approach to anger management?
When?

Answer 3

Novaco (1975)

Question 4

What did Novaco say?

Answer 4

Novaco (1975) suggested that cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal - leading to aggressive acts
He said that anger often appears in situations that are perceived to be anxiety-inducing or life threatening and that becoming angry is reinforced by a person’s feelings of lack of control in that situation

Question 5

What are the 3 steps to CBT (Anger Management Specific)

Answer 5

Cognitive Preparation
Skill Acquisition
Application Practise

Question 6

Explain the first stage?

Answer 6

1) cognitive preparation
Offenders reflect on their past experiences and consider the typical patterns of their anger
They identify the triggers and the way that they interpreted the event at the time
Then the therapist gets them to redefine the situation

Question 7

Explain the second stage?

Answer 7

2) Skill Acquisition
The aim of this is get the patients to learn techniques so they can control their anger
The cognitive aspect: new coping skills and techniques are learnt eg counting to ten
Physiological: relaxation techniques learned
Behavioural: assertiveness training can help deal with issue constructively, not violently.

Question 8

Explain the third stage

Answer 8

3) Application Practise
Offenders are put in situations where they can practise their techniques in a carefully monitored environment eg role playing
However, the patient needs to want to do this and see the scenarios as real
During this the therapist must provide positive reinforcement

Question 9

Briefly describe the formatting of anger management cources

Answer 9

Anger management may in prisons, ex offenders on a probationary period, conducted in small groups and it lasts around 10 sessions (so there is a high commitment needed)

Question 10

What did Keen do?
When?

Answer 10

National Anger Management Package Keen et al (2000)

Question 11

Explain the National Anger Management Package?

Answer 11

■ Developed by the England and Wales prison service for young offenders between 17-21.
■ Devised in 1992 and updated in 1995.
■ Eight 2 hour sessions – 7 over a three week period and the last one a month after.
Outcomes
■ Offenders reported increased awareness of their anger management difficulties and an increased capacity to exercise self-control

Question 12

What additional variables may there be to anger management?

Answer 12

Offenders willingness to take part
Highly skilled workers to run the courses

Question 13

Explain the study that shows that for anger management to work offenders need to be willing to do it?

Answer 13

Howells et al (2005)
■ Measured the success level of anger management with violent offenders.
■ The programme reduced anger but not to a statistically significant level.
■ Offenders readiness to take part in the programme was a major factor in whether the programme was a success.

Question 14

Explain the study that shows that for anger management to work you need highly trained staff?

Answer 14

Koons et al (1997)
■ Examined the factors that seemed to contribute the most to anger management interventions with offenders.
■ They found that offenders and practitioners both suggested that an individualised programme was effective together with the way it was delivered by staff.
■ It seems the trainers needed to be selected carefully to give the programme every change of success.

Question 15

What are the positive evaluations of Anger Management?

Answer 15

Eclectic approach
Comparison with behaviour modification

Question 16

What are the negative evaluations of Anger Management?

Answer 16

Long term effectiveness
Anger may not cause offending
Operalisation of success
Practicality

Question 17

Explain the positive evaluation of Anger Management: Eclectic Approach

Answer 17

Multidisciplinary approach
■ Cognitive preparation – behavioural perspective – social approach
■ Acknowledges that offending is a complex social and psychological activity

Question 18

Explain the negative evaluation of Anger Management: Long term effectiveness

Answer 18

■ Blackburn (1993): whilst anger management has a noticeable effect in the short term, there is little evidence it reduces recidivism in the long-term.
■ Application is reliant upon artificial role-play.
Studied have low external validity

Question 19

Explain the negative evaluation of Anger Management: Anger may not cause Offending

Answer 19

■ This approach assumes there is a causal relationship between anger and offending.
■ Loza and Loza-Fanous (1999)
– 252 Canadian offenders.
– Looked at offences, recidivism and anger scores. No significant link between anger and violent/non-violent offences
– Suggested anger management can be misguided in offering offenders justifications for their behaviour.
– Many crimes are not motivated by anger.

Question 20

Explain the negative evaluation of Anger Management: Operalisation of Success

Answer 20

■ It is difficult to measure how successful an intervention has been.
■ Levels of recidivism are one such measure, but there are many possible reasons why someone may reoffend, so any repeat of criminal behaviour may not be due to the failure of the anger management programme.
■ Using recidivism as a measure is also problematic because it only measures when a person is reconvicted, meaning that any failures of the programme might not be picked up.

Question 21

Explain the negative evaluation of Anger Management: Practicality

Answer 21

■ Highly trained specialised who are used to dealing with violent offenders
However, this may vary from prisons with a postcode lottery effect
■ Commitment- may be difficult if prisoners are uncooperative and apathetic

Question 22

Explain the evaluation of Anger Management: Comparisons with Behaviour Modification

Answer 22

■ Behaviour modification tackles one of the causes of offending
■ Anger Management attempts to address the thought processes that under lie offending behaviour by helping the offender discover ways of external self management so permanent behavioural change and lower rates of recidivism

They can be used together