Anger management
Encyclopedia
The term anger management commonly refers to a system of psychological therapeutic
techniques and exercises by which someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger
& aggression
can control or reduce the trigger
s, degrees, and effects of an angered emotion
al state. Some popular anger management techniques include relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring
, problem solving, and improving communication strategies. In some countries, courses in anger management may be mandated by their legal system.
According to St. John’s University's psychology professor Ray DiGiuseppe "Because anger has been viewed as a secondary emotion by most clinical theories, no anger disorders are included in the present version of DSM-IV-TR, and this is unlikely to change in DSM-V." Despite this, anger experts like Eva L. Feindler speak of "anger-related disorders". DiGiuseppe writes that after reviewing "the existing outcome studies on anger treatments, we concluded that while some successful interventions for anger had been developed, these interventions were generally less successful than psychotherapeutic interventions for anxiety
and depression
. Also, the majority of the research focused on a narrow range of cognitive-behavioral therapies.
With regard to interpersonal anger, Dr. Eva L. Feindler recommends that people try, in the heat of an angry moment, to see if they can understand where the alleged perpetrator is coming from. Empathy is very difficult when one is angry, but it can make all the difference in the world. Taking the other person's point of view can be excruciating when in the throes of anger, but with practice it can become second nature. Of course, once the angry person is in conditions of considering the opposite position, then anger based on righteous indignation tends to disappear.
Sometimes the term "anger management" refers to an educational process during which students learn very basic anger issues. For example, people rarely distinguish between the emotion of anger and the behavior they exhibit when angry. Most often people believe that when overcome by anger they are out of control. In fact, they are most often very much in control of their behavior
while not in control of the emotion. It is often difficult to accept this as fact as it is much easier to excuse one's misbehavior when the behavior was committed while one was out of control. Anger management classes attempt to remind students of their personal responsibility while providing strategies to assist in avoiding having the emotion of anger in the first place. Basic self cares (adequate sleep, exercise, and avoidance of drugs and alcohol) together with stress reduction actually seem to help reduce the number and scale of anger episodes.
In experimental psychology exists so called "direct eradication" technique. It means concentrated, intensive and a joyful wish to eliminate anger (or any similar negative emotion). This wish is called "effort" and leads to changing perceptions in conformity with such wish. "To make an effort of anger elimination" is identical to "remember yourself in a free state from anger" or "jump in the free state from anger".
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
techniques and exercises by which someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger
Anger
Anger is an automatic response to ill treatment. It is the way a person indicates he or she will not tolerate certain types of behaviour. It is a feedback mechanism in which an unpleasant stimulus is met with an unpleasant response....
& aggression
Aggression
In psychology, as well as other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause humiliation, pain, or harm. Ferguson and Beaver defined aggressive behavior as "Behavior which is intended to increase the social dominance of...
can control or reduce the trigger
Trigger
-Technology:* Trigger , a mechanism that actuates the firing of firearms* Image trigger, a device used in highspeed cameras* Schmitt trigger, an electronic circuit* Trigger circuit, IBM's name for a flip-flop...
s, degrees, and effects of an angered emotion
Emotion
Emotion is a complex psychophysiological experience of an individual's state of mind as interacting with biochemical and environmental influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves "physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience." Emotion is associated with mood,...
al state. Some popular anger management techniques include relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring
Cognitive restructuring
Cognitive restructuring, sometimes used synonymously with Debating, is the process of learning to identify irrational or maladaptive thoughts and challenge their veracity using strategies such as logical disputation....
, problem solving, and improving communication strategies. In some countries, courses in anger management may be mandated by their legal system.
According to St. John’s University's psychology professor Ray DiGiuseppe "Because anger has been viewed as a secondary emotion by most clinical theories, no anger disorders are included in the present version of DSM-IV-TR, and this is unlikely to change in DSM-V." Despite this, anger experts like Eva L. Feindler speak of "anger-related disorders". DiGiuseppe writes that after reviewing "the existing outcome studies on anger treatments, we concluded that while some successful interventions for anger had been developed, these interventions were generally less successful than psychotherapeutic interventions for anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. Also, the majority of the research focused on a narrow range of cognitive-behavioral therapies.
With regard to interpersonal anger, Dr. Eva L. Feindler recommends that people try, in the heat of an angry moment, to see if they can understand where the alleged perpetrator is coming from. Empathy is very difficult when one is angry, but it can make all the difference in the world. Taking the other person's point of view can be excruciating when in the throes of anger, but with practice it can become second nature. Of course, once the angry person is in conditions of considering the opposite position, then anger based on righteous indignation tends to disappear.
Sometimes the term "anger management" refers to an educational process during which students learn very basic anger issues. For example, people rarely distinguish between the emotion of anger and the behavior they exhibit when angry. Most often people believe that when overcome by anger they are out of control. In fact, they are most often very much in control of their behavior
while not in control of the emotion. It is often difficult to accept this as fact as it is much easier to excuse one's misbehavior when the behavior was committed while one was out of control. Anger management classes attempt to remind students of their personal responsibility while providing strategies to assist in avoiding having the emotion of anger in the first place. Basic self cares (adequate sleep, exercise, and avoidance of drugs and alcohol) together with stress reduction actually seem to help reduce the number and scale of anger episodes.
In experimental psychology exists so called "direct eradication" technique. It means concentrated, intensive and a joyful wish to eliminate anger (or any similar negative emotion). This wish is called "effort" and leads to changing perceptions in conformity with such wish. "To make an effort of anger elimination" is identical to "remember yourself in a free state from anger" or "jump in the free state from anger".