The Anger Management Therapy Model

Although anger may seem to begin with a personal experience, it is actually part of a larger chain of events. Helping individuals understand this chain, which is called the anger process pattern leads to an enhanced and a more easily accepted intervention programme.

Almost all individuals blame the external world for their anger. The view can be tailored by understanding the relationships between each section of the anger event.

The Anger Management Therapy Model has five parts:

TRIGGERS: Triggers are the external or internal arousal that set the stage for the anger event. A combination of the trigger and the interpretation of the trigger more often develop in a response to unwanted and sometimes unexpected, aversive interpersonal angry behaviour.

EVALUATION: An important part of learning to manage anger is to begin to understand the various ways of expressing it. Before breaking destructive cycles and patterns of anger it is important to understand the process of emotions, thoughts and events that influence anger. The anger shown today is more often likely to be a result of learning unhealthy patterns in childhood from important adult role models. However, this is not an excuse for anger and responsibility remains with the individual who is expressing their anger inappropriately.

EXPERIENCES: This part of the model refers to the internal awareness of anger. This internal awareness based on the individuals self-perceived physiological reactions (e.g. heart increase), self-observation of spontaneous channelled behaviour (e.g. clench fist, shouting), and self-awareness of anger related thoughts and self-experienced emotions.

EXPRESSIVE PATTERNS: Individuals tend to have one way, or a few selective ways of reacting to situations and expressing their anger. Common patterns of anger expression include:

Anger-In. for some individual�s anger is typically held in. experiencentially they may be quite aware of their anger but judge expression to be inappropriate and show little or no external signs. These individuals may store their anger express anger at a later time.

Anger-Out. (Verbal, physical, and bodily expressions)
Most typically anger is expressed outwardly for example by verbal abuse, yelling, accusing, cursing, blaming, smashing items, slamming doors, demanding. Threats, to personally harm or/and harm personal items and possessions threats that may lead to physical fights. Violence, Shoving, Slapping, Punching.

Indirect Anger (passive-aggressive actions and covert sabotage). Individuals in this category often express a their anger as sulking, letting others guess what they are feeling or thinking, and exploding when its picked up wrong. Individuals may become disruptive and/or sabotage plans and property.

Anger-Control. Individuals often spend a lot of effort monitoring their anger, trying to control its expression. Individuals control outward expression of felt experiences or minimisation of such experiences. Such efforts at control may lead to passivity, brooding, suspicion and holding grudges. Such vigilance, suspicion and grudge holding may lead to future anger events and possibly aggression.

CONSEQUENCE: consequences or outcomes are a critical part of the model, since behaviourists have shown quite clearly that, future behaviour is a function of past consequences. Angry behaviour may be followed by positive events such as, attention, and behavioural compliance of others, feeling good, sexual favours. Responsibility of behaviour or empathy for the victim is not present. Individuals need to be aware of self- gratifications and to be empathetic to victims whilst holding responsibility for their abusive behaviour.

The model on which the treatment programme is based hypothesise that anger events begin with triggers which typically leas to general arousal. Based upon the individuals learning history, the initial trigger and the arousal are then interpreted in a way that leads to even greater arousal and agitation labelled as anger or rage. These more intense feelings may be suppressed and controlled, leading to ruminative seething. Alternatively, they may be expressed outwardly in the form of verbal or physical action. The individuals are required to be held accountable for their own abusive actions and except responsibility for their actions. These actions have consequences, some of which can be intense and even fatal.

For more information contact Jim at
enquiries@angertherapy.co.uk

or call 07751 369 067