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Understanding clinical anger and violence: the anger avoidance model.
Frank L Gardner1, Zella E Moore
1La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. gardner@lasalle.edu
Behavior Modification
|July 11, 2008
Summary
Clinical anger and aggression stem from avoiding anger, not expressing it. Early aversive experiences lead to cognitive and behavioral avoidance, impacting emotional regulation and treatment strategies for anger.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Emotion Research
Background:
- Anger is a primary emotion with functional roles.
- Clinical anger and aggression have severe consequences.
- Limited theoretical and treatment advancements exist for clinical anger.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce the novel Anger Avoidance Model.
- Provide a new conceptualization of clinical anger and its manifestations.
- Address the insufficient research attention on clinical anger.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual model development.
- Theoretical analysis of anger processing and regulation.
- Integration of cognitive and behavioral avoidance in anger.
Main Results:
- The Anger Avoidance Model posits that clinical anger arises from avoiding anger experiences.
- Early aversive history contributes to information processing biases and emotion regulation deficits.
- Avoidance manifests as hostile rumination (cognitive) and aggression/violence (behavioral).
Conclusions:
- The Anger Avoidance Model offers a new framework for understanding clinical anger.
- The model highlights the role of avoidance in anger-related behaviors.
- Implications for future research and clinical treatment of anger are discussed.
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