Anger Management

Question 1

what is anger management

Answer 1

• Unlike behaviour modification, anger management is a way of dealing with offending behaviour OUTSIDE the prison as well as inside.
• It is a type of CBT known as AMT (anger management therapy), based on the assumption by Novaco (1975) that cognitive factors cause the emotion that triggers aggression.
• Some criminals may be more cognitively vulnerable in anxiety-provoking situations and their thought patterns trigger anger which triggers aggression.
• By aggressing, the individual feels they gain control, and this is positively reinforcing.
• Through anger management programmes, criminals can be taught to rationalise thinking in anxiety provoking situations and minimise negative emotional effects.
• They can be taught new techniques to feel in control that are much more pro-social and resolve conflict.
• Assumption that thoughts cause the negative emotions that cause criminal behaviour

Question 2

what are the 3 stages of AMT

Answer 2

1. cognitive preparation
2. skill acquisition
3. application practice

Question 3

what is the first stage of AMT

Answer 3

Cognitive Preparation
- reflecting on past experience and exploring past patterns of anger/behaviour.
- Identifying trigger situations and rationalising the thinking behind them.

Question 4

what is the second stage of AMT

Answer 4

Skill acquisition
- learning skills and techniques to help the criminal deal with the anxiety or anger provoking situations more effectively.
- Cognitive training- e.g positive self talk
- behavioural- assertiveness training in how to communicate more effectively
- physiological training in terms of meditation/relaxation to manage the physical effects of the stress response.

Question 5

what is the third stage of AMT

Answer 5

Application practise
- practising the skills and techniques learned in phase 2 using role play in therapy sessions.
- This may involve re-enacting past scenarios, where the therapist will intentionally “wind up” the criminal to assess their progress.
- The criminal must be thought to have made a lot of progress before this is tested (risky for the therapist!).

Question 6

what are the +ve AO3 points for AM

Answer 6

• research support - Keen
• more successful than BM (behavioural modification)

Question 7

expand on the +ve AO3 point, research support - Keen

Answer 7

• Keen et al (2000) studied the progress made by young offenders aged 17-21 undergoing AMT developed by the England and Wales Prison Service.
• After eight weeks, offenders reported increased awareness of their anger management difficulties increased self- control. → self report isnt reliable, they could be lying

Question 8

expand on the +ve AO3 point, more successful than BM (behavioural modification)

Answer 8

• Rather than focusing on superficial surface behaviour, it actually tackles what is thought to be a direct cause of offending (anger and the thought processes and managing reactions involving this emotion).
• BM has no use outside of prison, but AM does, as offenders learn how to manage their thoughts, emotions and behaviour in the real world.
• It tackles four levels of the offender- their thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and physiology. It is therefore a very powerful treatment with the potential to really lower recidivism rates.

Question 9

what are the -ve AO3 points for AM

Answer 9

• Limited Support at lowering Recidivism
• Novaco
• Expense

Question 10

expand on the -ve AO3 point, limited support at lowering recidivism

Answer 10

• Blackburn (1993) believes that it’s long term success is hindered by phase three.
• That is, because offenders only get to ROLE PLAY the situations rather than engage in support with a therapist in the real world, it has limited effectiveness.
• If a therapist could be present in a real life anxiety setting (e.g a bar full on drunk men on a Friday night) where the individual could truly practise putting these techniques to the test, psychologists believe it would be more effective long term.

Question 11

expand on the -ve AO3 point, Novaco

Answer 11

• Novaco’s assumption that thoughts trigger negative emotion and behaviour is challenged by other psychologists who have found no difference in levels of anger between violent and non violent offenders.
• Psychologists have even gone as far as to suggest that this theory and the treatment give offenders an excuse for their behaviour.
• It is worth remembering that not all crimes are motivated by anger (fraud), the assumption of AMT is about negative thoughts causing criminal behaviour → not applicable for all crimes, and psychopaths e.g.

Question 12

expand on the -ve AO3 point, expense

Answer 12

• The main issue with AMT is that the prison service lacks the funds to run the treatment.
• It requires many specially trained therapists and prisons are absolutely overrun with offenders who need the treatment.
• Another factor is that the offender themselves needs to be incredibly motivated to engage with the treatment, and needs to really desire to change. This is not the attitude expressed by many criminals, most don’t want/aren’t motivated enough to do CBT.