Anger management

Question 1

what is it

Answer 1

• therapeutic programme involving identifying signs that trigger anger and learning techniques to self regulate and deal with the situation positively
• aims not to prevent anger but recognise and manage efficiently =

Question 2

point 1

Answer 2

• Cognitive behavioural treatment
  Novaco = cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal = anger quick to surface in situations perceived to be anxiety inducing/threatening - links to hostile attribution bias
• Courses are a form of CBT = recognise when losing control and develop techniques to bring ocnflict resolution
• short term goal = reduce anger/agression in prisons
• long term = reduce reoffenfing, promote rehabilitation
• Novaco 3 aims for programmes:
  cognitive restructuring = more self awareness, control over cog triggers
  regulation of arousal = control physio state
  behavioural strategies = problem solving skills ( strategic withdrawal

Question 3

point 2

Answer 3

• Stages of anger management: stress inoculation model
  1. conceptualisation = offenders reflect past experiences & typical patterns of their anger - learn triggers - learn if their interpretations are irrational thru therapist input - therapist tries to break automatic response of the offender
  2. skill acquisition = offenders introduced to techniques/skills to help them deal w anger provoking situations more effectively & rationally e.g. stop & thing - relaxation skills (counting) - communication skills so they can deal w conflict assertively/constructively & not angrily

Question 4

point 3

Answer 4

• Application practice
  offenders role play/practice their skills
  offenders must be committed & see role play scenario as real so anger management effective
• succesfull role play = pos reinforcement from therapist

Question 5

strength effectiveness

Answer 5

• Mulitdisciplinary approach
• Acknowledges that offending is complex social and psychological activity
• 3 dif elements/approaches = cog element (conceptualisation, behavioural (skill acquisition), social (applications)
• Makes method more holistic = considers several pyschological explanations that form human behaviour so is more effective at reducing crim behav & recidivism

Question 6

Weakness

Answer 6

• Attrition rates
• People may quit as offender unwilling/unable to reflect on behav or if voluntary offenders have right to withdraw
  C = Howells and day discussed ideas of readiness to change = working with offenders before ang manag to get them ready

Question 7

weakness money

Answer 7

• Expensive
  requires service of highly trained specialists and prisons may not have resources to fund AM programmes
• BUT, cost of recidivism in UK for economy is approx 9.5bil per year = less spent on recidivism rates for prison so money can be spent elsewhere

Question 8

Strength

Answer 8

• Research support
  Taylor and Novaco suggest 75% pateints showed imporvement
• Landenberger and Lipsey = 58 studies using CBT with offender, 20 of these looked at therapies where anger was key component - results showed having anger control element was significantly related to amount of improvement
• BUT Howells found only moderate benefits of AM during a metanalysis
• If theres contradictory evidence, more research needed to prove effectiveness