Modifying Criminal Behaviour - Anger Management Programme

Question 1

Novaco 3 key aim for anger management

Answer 1

Cognitive restructuring- become self aware you can control anger

Regulation of arousal - learn to control physiological state

Behavioural strategies - learn strategies to control anger

Question 2

3 key steps of anger management programme

Answer 2

1)conceptualisation - 1st phase - learn about anger generally. Analyse patterns of anger + identify situation that provoke them

2)skill acquisition - taught skill to manage anger (self regulation, relaxation), taught better communication skills = solve conflicts without being angry

3)application - client use skill in controlled, non-threatening situation (role play) - of situations previously provoke them
-receive feedback from therapist + actors
-then use in real life

Question 3

CALM programme (controlling anger + learning to manage it)

Answer 3

-24 sessions
-teach skills to reduce frequency + duration of anger
-other negative emotion - jealousy

Question 4

Ireland

Answer 4

-assess effectiveness of anger management programme on 87 male
-assess levels of pre-intervention anger with questionnaire
-split into control (waiting list), experimental group
-after 8 weeks with same questionnaire
-92% improved in at least 1 angry behaviour compare to control

Question 5

Evaluation - effectiveness strength

Answer 5

Law - evaluated 4 anger management programme
-prisoner try more to control anger more
-less likely for anger induced crimes, deliberate attempts to stop impulse
-therapy more reliable

Howells + Days - good adherence rate - find out readiness to. Change using ‘Anger Readiness to change Questionnaire’ - prevent wasting time or resource for those can’t change

Question 6

Effectiveness weakness

Answer 6

Watt et al - Not work in other culture - Australia - violent offenders on anger programme compared with wait list - no significant change in misconduct, aggressive behaviours
-effectiveness vary across culture - unreliable

Question 7

Ethical strength

Answer 7

No side effects from medication - unlike drug therapy

Question 8

Ethical weakness

Answer 8

Therapist conflict

-prisoner may tell therapist confessions or ways to harm security due to trust - therapist in tough dilemma on whether to report or not - harmed from being told information

-Loza + Loza-Fanous: argue anger programme can be harmful - blame anger not responsibility - unable to teach sympathy or take responsibility

Question 9

Social implication strength

Answer 9

Prison environment - if anger and crime linked = less crime, if not linked if anger down - environment become less hostile

UK cost of re-offender £9.5 billion per year, even if some criminal not change by anger programme, if even a little less = better economy

Question 10

Social implication weakness

Answer 10

May not help prisoner to fully get back to society
-even if control behaviour, criminal record
-less opportunities than other + socially isolated
-stress can cause relapse