---
title: Anger Management
description: "\tAnger Management – Evidence-based practice when based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)\r\n\r\n\r\nSummary of the Evidence\r\n\r\n•\tCBT-based anger management is an evidence-based practice. \r\n•\tAnger management programs that are educational or awareness building are not effective. \r\n•\tEvidence indicates that CBT-based anger management programs reduce general and violent recidivism.\r\n•\tSkills taught in anger management programs help clients build strong interpersonal relationships and comply with the conditions of supervision.\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat Is Anger Management?\r\n•\tAnger management is a therapeutic treatment program that aims to help clients manage anger and change hostile attitudes without engaging in violent behavior. \r\n•\tAnger, aggression, and hostility are different:1\r\no\tAggression is behavior that is intended to cause harm to another person or damage property (can include verbal abuse, threats, or violent acts).\r\no\tAnger is an emotion which does not necessarily lead to aggression.\r\no\tHostility is an attitude that involves disliking others and evaluating them negatively; it can lead to aggressive behaviors.\r\n•\tClients (like everyone) may experience anger. Effective anger management programming is about managing angry feelings without engaging in aggression.\r\n•\tEffective anger management is grounded in the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (see CBT Appropriateness Statement).\r\n\r\nHow Is It Used?\r\n•\tAnger management uses cognitive restructuring (changing thought patterns) to help clients recognize emotions, angry thought patterns and their triggers, identify the potential consequences of an angry or violent reaction, use cognitive skills to redirect or stop escalation of negative thoughts leading to violence, and cope with anger without resorting to violence.\r\n•\tAnger management also teaches clients to create plans for how they will respond to potential triggers of anger in a nonviolent way.\r\n•\tClients who have engaged in violent crimes or whose crimes are motivated by uncontrolled anger (for example, some forms of property destruction) may be ordered to complete an anger management program.\r\n\r\nHow Can It Be Used to Monitor Compliance?\r\n•\tAnger management is designed to help clients manage their emotions and respond to difficult situations in positive, nonviolent ways. It is not intended to monitor compliance with supervision conditions.\r\n\r\nHow Can It Be Used as a Supervision Tool?\r\n•\tAnger management can help clients address problems in nonviolent ways.\r\no\tThis can help clients comply with supervision conditions without becoming frustrated and acting out in violent ways.\r\n\r\nWhat Are the Costs of Anger Management?\r\n•\tClients typically pay for anger management programs if there is a fee involved.\r\no\tThis can be problematic if the client is unable to afford the program.\r\n\r\nWhat Do Supervision Staff Think About Anger Management?\r\n•\tSupervision staff report that anger management is\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for low-risk clients, except those who are gang-involved, for whom it is never appropriate, and\r\no\talways appropriate for medium- and high-risk clients, except those who are gang-involved or who have substance use disorder, for whom it is sometimes appropriate.\r\n\r\nCompliance Level\r\n•\tSupervision staff report that psychological interventions like anger management are\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all low-risk clients, regardless of whether they are in compliance with the conditions of supervision,\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for medium- and high-risk clients who are in moderate or high compliance with the conditions of supervision, and \r\no\talways appropriate for those who are in low compliance with supervision conditions.\r\n\r\nWhat Should You Expect When Using Anger Management?\r\nClient Outcomes\r\n•\tAnger management can teach clients skills like identifying angry/negative emotions, addressing interpersonal conflict, and finding positive outlets to handle anger.\r\n•\tAnger management skills can help clients build and maintain positive relationships, which can facilitate participation in school, work, and other activities.\r\n\r\nIs It an Evidence-Based Practice?\r\n•\tYes, anger management is an evidence-based practice that is shown to reduce general and, especially, violent recidivism.\r\no\tThere is evidence that anger management programs that are shorter (~50 hours) are more effective than programs that are longer (over 144 hours).\r\n\r\nWhat Do People Formerly Involved in the Criminal Legal System Think About Anger Management?\r\n•\tPeople who have been involved in the criminal legal system (the “criminal justice” or “legal” system is referred to as the criminal legal system in this document) report that anger management is\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all low-risk clients,\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all medium- and high-risk clients, and\r\no\talways appropriate for those who have committed intimate partner violence.\r\n\tNOTE: Evidence suggests that anger management programs are less effective with individuals who have committed intimate partner violence (see “Special Considerations When Using Anger Management with Subpopulations” section below).\r\n\r\nCommunication That Strengthens the Officer-Client Relationship (Messaging)\r\n•\tOfficers should be aware that clients may have participated in anger management before (including in jail/prison).\r\no\tClients may perceive anger management programs to be ineffective if they have been mandated to participate in them repeatedly and have not benefitted or learned effective anger management skills.\r\no\tNot all anger management programs are effective or based on evidence-based principles.\r\n\tAnger management programs that are educational or awareness building are not effective. \r\n\tEvidence indicates that CBT-based anger management programs are effective in reducing general and violent recidivism.\r\n\tIt is important to discuss past anger management programs the client may have participated in, since a negative experience may be due to an ineffective program.\r\n•\tOfficers should communicate that anger management is not just another “hoop to jump through,” but a way to learn effective emotional regulation skills.\r\n•\tOfficers should discuss anger management programs in a nonjudgmental way with the client.\r\no\tHaving difficulty controlling emotions does not mean that the client is “sick.”\r\no\tEmotional regulation skills are important for people regardless of whether they have difficulty managing anger without resorting to violence. This should be communicated to the client.\r\n\r\nSpecial Considerations When Using Anger Management With Subpopulations\r\n\r\nGang-Involved\tAnger management may be less effective at preventing gang-related violence, since this form of violence is often motivated by survival needs and aggression instead of emotional responses. \r\nGeneral Violence\tBecause it develops communication skills, anger management can be particularly effective with individuals who have committed violent crimes resulting from difficult situations.\r\nIntimate Partner Violence\tAnger management may not be effective at preventing intimate partner violence, possibly because this form of behavior relates more to domination and control than to managing emotions. \r\nSerious Mental Illness\tPeople with mental illness may have higher levels of impulsivity and low self-control, which can be addressed using the skills taught in anger management programs.\r\nSubstance Use Disorder\tIt is important to determine whether violent behavior is due to difficulty regulating emotions, the influence of substances, or both, because anger-management programs may be less effective with individuals who abuse substances like alcohol."
url: "https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/treatments/anger-management/"
updated: "2023-06-09"
category: Treatments
tags:
  - "Evidence-Based Practices"
  - Programs
  - Treatments
---

# Anger Management

***Anger Management – Evidence-based practice when based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)***

Summary of the Evidence

- CBT-based anger management is an evidence-based practice.
- Anger management programs that are educational or awareness building are not effective.
- Evidence indicates that CBT-based anger management programs reduce general and violent recidivism.
- Skills taught in anger management programs help clients build strong interpersonal relationships and comply with the conditions of supervision.

What Is Anger Management?

How Is It Used?

What Do Supervision Staff Think About Anger Management?

What Should You Expect When Using Anger Management?

Special Considerations When Using Anger Management With Subpopulations

 

**Similar Topics**

## [Treatment Implementation Considerations](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/treatments/treatment-implementation-considerations/)

## [In-Patient & Out-Patient Treatment](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/treatments/in-patient-out-patient-treatment/)

## [Mental Health Screening and Evaluation](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/treatments/mental-health-screening-and-evaluation/)