anger management

Anger management courses can help individuals manage anger in themselves and others. This is particularly valuable because like other emotions, it can be difficult to give a precise definition of anger.

Because it is also such a strong emotion, anger can sometimes become overbearing and cause individuals to overreact and draw-in others, causing it to escalate. But anger can have positive aspects too – the key to managing it is not in its elimination but in challenging it constructively. This can include changing thought patterns, doing relaxation exercises and learning how to communicate better to reduce stress levels.

Our Anger Management For Professionals course will give you the skills to help others manage their anger in the workplace and in professional settings. This includes sports coaches, those in management roles, or those who work in the counselling or health and wellbeing sector.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking anger management courses include:

• Learning about the nature and scope of anger
• Exploring the autonomic nervous system
• Studying anger and arousal
• Understanding galvanic skin resistance
• Analysing voice stress
• Gaining insights into polygraphs
• Learning about the degrees of arousal
• Exploring the difficulties of arousal theories
• Studying theories of emotion including those of James Lange, Cannon-Bard and Schachter
• Examining Lazarus’s appraisal theory and Weiner’s attribution theory
• Gaining insights into facial feedback theory and Averill’s social construction theory
• Learning about managing anger with counselling
• Exploring the causes of anger including frustration and self-defence
• Studying the expressions of anger
• Examining anger counselling strategies
• Gaining insights into the ‘empty chair’ technique
• Learning how to recognise psychological arousal
• Exploring thought stopping, time out and relaxation exercises
• Gaining insights into assertiveness training
• Studying the five stages of an assertiveness training interview
• Uncovering the mental blocks to assertiveness
• Gaining insights into managing anger with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Learning how to identify antecedents
• Exploring anger assessments
• Studying beginning therapy
• Examining inferences, evaluations and chaining
• Gaining insights into disputing inferences and evaluations
• Learning about independence and the blockages to change
• Exploring the use of imagery
• Studying emotional insight, exposure and termination
• Gaining insights into working with anger problems in CBT
• Learning about anger management techniques for violence
• Exploring appearance, posture, affect and speech
• Studying the causes of violence
• Understanding cold, hot and reactive violence
• Gaining tips on dealing with violent people
• Learning strategies for violence prevention
• Exploring action after violence
• Studying how to manage violence against others
• Understanding mental disorders and violence
• Examining anger management for people with mental health issues
• Gaining insights into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of mental disorders
• Learning about dementia and anger and how to support people with dementia
• Exploring anxiety and depression
• Studying grief, its stages and the tasks of mourning
• Understanding how to manage anger and temper tantrums in toddlers
• Examining anger in older children including adolescents
• Gaining insights into psychological changes in girls and boys
• Learning about depression and eating problems in children
• Exploring how and why adults share anger
• Studying anger management for people with personality disorders
• Gaining an understanding of psychopathology
• Examining borderline personality disorders and treatment
• Gaining insights into psychopathy and treatments
• Learning about roid rage and its symptoms
• Exploring anger management services
• Studying counselling services, courses, workshops and anger management clinics
• Understanding group and individual work in anger management
• Examining conflict management and conflict handling techniques
• Gaining insights into life coaching
• Learning how to set up an anger management consultancy

 

The 10 Basic Types of Anger

Anger is a universal emotion, and we all feel annoyed, frustrated or even outraged from time to time. The type of anger we use to express our feelings can also vary depending on our mood and the circumstances. But anger is neither good or bad – it is simply an emotion. Clarifying different types of anger and learning the strategies to manage them – particularly by taking anger management courses – is the key to controlling emotions and the subsequent behaviours that follow.

 

#1 – Assertive Anger

This is the most constructive type of anger in that feelings of frustration or rage can act as a catalyst for positive change. Rather than internalising feelings, avoiding confrontation or resorting to physical or verbal outbursts, anger is expressed in ways that don’t cause destruction or distress. This ‘assertive anger’ can help individuals address injustice, overcome fear and achieve their desired life outcomes. It’s a powerful motivator!

 

#2 – Behavioural Anger

This type of anger is expressed physically and usually aggressively. It might involve throwing or breaking things or even physically attacking the object of an individual’s rage. It can be highly unpredictable and often has negative interpersonal and legal consequences. Management strategies include individuals taking a moment to calm down, removing themselves from the situation and using self-talk techniques to regain control of their emotions.

 

#3 – Chronic Anger

This is an ongoing frustration with circumstances, anger towards oneself or a general resentment of other people. Because of its prolonged nature, it can have profoundly negative effects on one’s health and wellbeing. To manage it, individuals should spend some time on reflection and identify the source of their resentment. It can also involve forgiveness – which is a powerful process that can help people resolve lingering frustration and hurt.

 

#4 – Judgemental Anger

This type of anger is indignant and usually a reaction to someone else’s shortcomings or a perceived injustice. It assumes a morally superior stance and may alienate potential allies by invalidating differences of opinion. Management strategies include individuals being open-minded about different situations because they are rarely as simple as they seem! Other people’s perspectives can also give valuable insights into some of life’s challenges.

 

#5 – Overwhelmed Anger

This is a form of anger that occurs when individuals feel a situation is beyond their control. This results in feelings of frustration and hopelessness and is common when people take on too much responsibility, or unexpected events have reduced their capacity to cope. In order to manage it, individuals should reach out to others for support. By alleviating potential sources of stress, emotional and behavioural control may be achieved.

 

#6 – Passive-aggressive Anger

This is an ‘avoidant’ type of anger, where individuals try to evade confrontation and may deny feelings of fury or frustration. It can be expressed as silence, mockery or sarcasm, and often people who express anger in this way aren’t even aware they are being aggressive. Management techniques include individuals learning to assertively communicate and confidently face their fears in order to meet their personal and professional needs.

# 7 – Retaliatory Anger

One of the most common types of anger, this is usually an instinctual response to being attacked or confronted by someone else. It can be deliberate and motivated by revenge for a perceived wrong and often aims to intimidate others by asserting control over an outcome or situation. In order to manage it, individuals should pause and think before they act. By choosing to diffuse the conflict, they can avoid the often long-term consequences of revenge.

 

# 8 – Self-abusive Anger

This type of anger is shame-based and individuals may feel unworthy, humiliated or hopeless. By internalising feelings, anger can be expressed by self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders or negative self-talk. Management strategies include cognitive reframing techniques and mindful meditation, which can help centre an individual in the present and help them deal with impulse-related behaviours.

 

# 9 – Verbal Anger

Verbal anger can be a form of psychological or emotional abuse that deeply hurts an individual’s target. It may be expressed as furious threats, ridicule, sarcasm or intense criticism or blame. This often results in the individual feeling ashamed and apologetic afterwards. In order to manage it, individuals should take a breath before they speak and try and delay the impulse to lash out.

 

#10 – Volatile Anger

This type of anger often comes out of nowhere and is experienced by individuals who are quick to get upset by annoyances. It can be incredibly destructive because even though individuals calm down just as quickly if left unchecked it may eventually lead to more violent verbal or physical behaviour. Management strategies include individuals identifying the signs and symptoms that precede an outburst, and using relaxation techniques to stop their anger from escalating.

 

Are things a little too tense at work? Learn a range of valuable anger management techniques that will improve communication and help reduce people’s stress with our Anger Management For Professionals course.