NCJ Number
196173
Date Published
June 2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Following a literature review on anger management research, this paper reports on the impact of anger and aggression rehabilitation programs within correctional settings in South Australia and Western Australia.
Abstract
A literature review shows that although anger management and violence-reduction programs have developed and proliferated in working with violent offenders, the empirical and controlled evaluation of the effectiveness of such programs is at an early stage. Large-scale outcome studies are needed in which high-risk, seriously violent offenders are exposed to anger management and similar programs; comprehensive outcome measures are needed, including self-reports, psychometric measures, behavioral observations, and recidivist rates. The current study assessed approximately 200 male offenders (mostly inmates) in South Australia and Western Australia before and after they participated in an anger management intervention. The project was conducted from February 1999 to January 2001. The aim of the study was to determine what changes had occurred and then compare these with a control group of offenders who had been selected for intervention but had not yet entered the program. The program in South Australia guided participants in understanding the nature of anger, recognizing anger and change, staying in control by using timeout and relaxation, socialization in identifying early patterns, understanding how thoughts and beliefs affect anger, improving communication, and the management of anger in close relationships. The program components in Western Australia were similar, with the inclusion of coping with provocation by using "self-talk" and learning how to be assertive in expressing anger while avoiding violence and verbal abuse. Results of the programs varied according to participant characteristics. Across a range of anger measures, those high in anger and low in anger control at the pretreatment assessment showed the greatest change at the post-program retest. Also, offenders who were motivated and ready to work on their anger problems showed greater improvements on a wide range of anger measures; those who were poorly motivated showed less or no change. The extent to which the program was delivered in practice as it was designed also influenced outcome. This study recommends the continuation of anger management interventions as an important component of core programs. Improvement can occur with the screening out of individuals not likely to benefit from the program. Program implementation should be regularly monitored, and overall program length should be at least 50 hours. Therapeutic techniques should be increased while decreasing educational components. 1 table and 24 references