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Case Against Anger Control Treatment Programs for Batterers

NCJ Number
104960
Journal
Response to the Victimization of Women and Children Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (1986) Pages: 2-5
Author(s)
E W Gondolf; D Russell
Date Published
1986
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Treatment programs for men who batter for the most part include a group discussion format, communication skills training, sex role desocialization, and anger control.
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increasing trend toward emphasizing the anger control component, yet there is little evidence of its effectiveness in ending physical and emotional abuse, and clinical evidence suggests that batterers may misuse the technique. In addition, anger control (1) implies that the victim provokes the anger and precipitates the abuse, (2) fails to account for the premeditated controlling behaviors associated with abuse, and (3) tends to diffuse the responsibility for the abuse and prolong the batterer's denial. Consequently, anger control is a treatment tool that must be used with great caution and might better be replaced by alternative techniques that encourage more substantial personal change. 1 note and 24 references.