Dealing with offending behaviour: Anger manage

Who suggested that cognitive factors trigger the emotional arousal which generally precedes aggressive acts and what is his argument

Raymond Novaco. His argument is that in some people anger is often quick to surface especially in situations that are perceived to be anxiety-inducing or threatening

What is becoming angry explained as in behaviourist terms

Becoming angry is reinforced by the individual’s feelings of control in that situation

What are anger management programmes a form of and how do they work

They are a form of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) - the individual is taught how to recognise the cognitive factors that trigger their anger and loss of control, and then they are encouraged to develop techniques to come to conflict resolution without the need for violence

What are the 3 stages of anger management

1. Cognitive preparation

2. Skills acquisition

3. Application practice

What is cognitive preparation

The offender has to reflect on past experience and consider the typical pattern of their anger. They learn to spot situations that trigger their anger. If their reaction is based on irrational thoughts, the therapist points this out. For example, the offender might see someone looking at them or their partner as a threat. When the therapist redefines the situation as non-threatening, they are attempting to break what may be an automatic response for the offender

What is skills acquisition

The offenders are introduced to a range of techniques and skills to help them deal with anger-provoking situations more rationally and effectively. Techniques may include:

Cognitive: positive self-talk to encourage calmness (e.g counting to ten)

Behavioural: assertiveness training in how to communicate more effectively which will become an automatic response if practiced regularly

Physiological: deal with the physical reaction to anger like using relaxation training or meditation - aim is to control one’s emotions rather than be controlled by them

What is application practice

Offenders are given the opportunity to practice their skills in a carefully controlled environment. This role play is likely to involve the offender and the therapist re-enacting scenarios that may have led to feelings of anger and violence in the past. Requires commitment from offender - they must see the scenario as real. Also requires bravery from therapist - their job is to ‘wind up’ the offender to assess their progress. If offender deals successfully this is given positive reinforcement by therapist

Who studied the progress made with young offenders aged between 17 and 21 who took part in a nationally recognised anger management programme

Julia Keen et al. (2000) This course (National Anger Management Package - developed by England and Wales Prison Service), created by the Prison Service in 1992 and updated in1995, includes eight two-hour sessions - seven over three weeks and one a month later. It follows the anger management process described earlier. At first, some offenders didn’t take it seriously and forgot things like bringing their diary. However, the overall results were positive. Offenders said they became more aware of their anger problems and felt better able to control themselves

What is a strength

One strength of anger management is that its effects may last longer than those of behaviour modification. This is because anger management focuses on the thinking patterns that cause anger and crime, not just the behaviour itself. In contrast, behaviour modification only deals with surface behaviour and doesn’t address what causes it. Anger management can help offenders understand why they act the way they do and learn how to control themselves outside of prison. This means it’s more likely to lead to long-term change

What is a counterpoint to the previous evaluation point

However, follow-up studies don’t always support the idea that anger management leads to long-term change. Ronald Blackburn (1993) noted that while it can improve behaviour in the short term, there’s little evidence that it reduces recidivism. This might be because the role play used in the application phase of therapy doesn’t fully prepare offenders for real-life situations, which can be much more intense - like being in a crowded pub on a Saturday night. This suggests anger management might not actually reduce reoffending

What is a limitation

It’s success may depend on individual factors. Kevin Howells et al. (2005) studied Australian offenders and found that, overall, the programme didn’t have much effect compared to a control group who got no treatment. But some offenders did improve - especially those who had high levels of anger to begin with and those who were motivated to change (known as ‘treatment readiness’). This suggests that anger management may only help certain types of offenders

What is another limitation

Another downside of anger management is that it can be expensive. These programmes need highly trained professionals who know how to deal with violent offenders, which costs a lot. Many prisons might not be able to afford this. Also, the success of the programme depends on how committed the offenders are, and some may not take it seriously. Since real change takes time, this makes the programme even more costly. This suggests that anger management may not work well in most prisons