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The Development of CBT Programmes for Anger: The Role of Interventions to Promote Perspective-Taking Skills

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2008

Andrew Day ,
Kevin Howells ,
Philip Mohr ,
Ernest Schall  and
Adam Gerace
Andrew Day*
Affiliation:
University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Kevin Howells
Affiliation:
Nottingham University, Institute of Mental Health and University of South Australia
Philip Mohr
Affiliation:
University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Ernest Schall
Affiliation:
University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Adam Gerace
Affiliation:
University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
*
Reprint requests to Andrew Day, Centre for Applied Psychological Research, School of Psychology, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. E-mail: andrew.day@unisa.edu.au
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Abstract

Although the emotion of anger has, in recent years, been the subject of increasing theoretical analysis, there are relatively few accounts of how interventions designed to reduce problematic anger might be related to cognitively oriented theories of emotion. In this review of the literature we describe how a cognitive-behavioural approach to the treatment of those with anger-related problems might be understood in relation to conceptualizations of anger from a cognitive perspective. Three additional interventions (visual feedback, chair-work, forgiveness therapy) are identified that aim to improve the perspective-taking skills of angry clients. It is concluded that such interventions might be considered for use within the context of cognitive-behavioural treatment.

Keywords

Angerperspective takingempathyanger managementcognitive-behavioural therapy
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 299 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2008

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