Skip to main content
Log in

Anger management: A group treatment program for people with mental retardation

  • Published:
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes the development of anger management groups for people with moderate to severe mental retardation. The group was based on work developed by Novaco (1976) and extended to people with mild mental retardation. Modifications to group techniques, such as participants being accompanied by a support worker in the group and more effort to help participants label emotions, were required for this more disabled group. An evaluation of the group is described and it was found that a reduction in aggressive behavior occurred after group treatment. Suggestions are made for future efforts in this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bender, M. (1993). The unoffered chair: The history of therapeutic disdain towards people with a learning difficulty.Clin. Psychol. Forum 54: April, 7–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender, M. P., and Johns, D. (1992). How should we measure the effects of group work with adults with learning difficulties? Parts 1 and 2.Clin. Psychol. Forum 43: 2–6; 44: 3–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, B. (1992).Teaching Anger Management to Persons with Mental Retardation, International Diagnostic System, Inc., University Illinois.

  • Benson, B., and Ivins, J. (1992). Anger, depression and self-concept in adults with mental retardation.J. Intel. Dis. Res. 36: 169–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benson, B., Johnson-Rice, C., and Miranti, S. V. (1986) Effects of anger management training with mentally retarded adults in group treatment.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 54: 728–729.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Black, L., Cullen, C., Dickens, P., and Turnbull, J. (1988). Anger control.Br. J. Hosp. Med. 325–329.

  • Catania, C., Mathews, B., and Shimoff, E. (1990). Properties of rule governed behavior and their implications. In Blackburn, D., and Lejeune, H. (eds.),Behavior Analysis in Theory and Practice. Contributions and Controversies, Erlbaum Associates, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, L., Dunn, L., Whetton, C., and Pintilie, D. (1982).British Picture Vocabulary Scale, Windsor, NFER.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durand, V. M. (1990).Severe Behavior Problems: A Functional Communication Training Approach, Guildford Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1953). On psychotherapy (1904). In:Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. Vol. VII Hogarth Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. M., Fraser, W. I., and Leudar, I. (1983). Recognition of emotions from facial expression in mental handicap.Br. J. Psychiatry 142: 566–571.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groves, D., Pattison, H., Furniss, F., and Meddis, R. (1992).Challenging Behavior Monitoring Programme, Loughborough University (unpublished).

  • Harchik, A. E., Sherman, J. A., and Sheldon, J. B. (1992). The use of self-management procedures with people with developmental disabilities: A brief review.Res. Devel. Dis. 10: 261–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollins, S. (1992). Group analytic therapy for people with mental handicap. In Waitman, A., and Conboy-Hill, S. (eds.),Psychotherapy and Mental Handicap, Sage, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurley, A. D. (1989). Individual psychotherapy with mentally retarded individuals: A review and call for research.Res. Devel. Dis. 10: 261–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiernan, C. (1991). Services for people with mental handicap and challenging behavior in the North West. In Harris, J. (ed.),Service Responses to People with Learning Difficulties and Challenging Behavior. BIMH Seminar Series No 1, Kidderminster, BIMH.

  • Kushlick, A., and Cox, G. R. (1973). The epidemiology of mental handicap.Develop. Med. Child Neurol. 15: 748–759.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaVigna, G. W., and Donnellan, A. M. (1986).Alternatives to Punishment: Solving Behavior Problems with Non-aversive Strategies, Irvington Publishers, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, W. R., and Batty, F. J. (1986). Abbreviated progressive relaxation: Its use with adults who are mentally handicapped.Ment. Hand. 14: 123–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maurer, H., and Newborough, J. R. (1987). Facial expressions of the mentally retarded and non-retarded children: 1. Recognition by mentally retarded and non-retarded adults.Am. J. Ment. Def. 91: 505–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAlpine, C., Kendall, K., and Singh, N. (1991). Recognition of facial expressions of emotion by persons with mental retardation.Am. J. Ment. Retard. 96: 29–36.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novaco, R. W. (1976). The functions and regulations of the arousal of anger.Am. J. Psychiatry 133: 1124–1128.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novaco, R. W. (1978). Anger and coping with stress. In Foryet, J., and Rathgen, D. (eds.),Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Research and Application, New York, Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novaco, R. W. (1979). The cognitive regulation of anger and stress. In Kendall and Holland (eds.)Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions: Theory, Research and Procedures, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novaco, R. W. (1985). Anger and its therapeutic regulation. In Chesman, M. A., and Roseman, R. M. (eds.)Anger and Hostility in Cardiovascular and Behavioral Disorders, Hemisphere, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Picture My Feelings (1989). 32 Illustrated reading sheets, LDA London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

  • Reed, J. (1990). Identification and description of adults with mental handicaps showing physically aggressive behavior.Ment. Hand. Res. 3: 126–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, J., and Clements, J. (1989). Assessing and understanding of emotional states in a population of adolescents and young adults with mental handicaps.J. Ment. Def. Res. 33: 229–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, S., Levitan, G. W., and McNally, R. J. (1982). Emotionally disturbed mentally retarded people: An under-served population.Am. Rsychologist 37: 361–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Tizard, J., and Whitmore, K. (1970).Education, Health and Behavior, Longmans, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, B. F. (1953).Science and Human Behavior, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szivos, S. E., and Griffiths, E. (1992). Coming to terms with learning difficulties: The effects of group work and group processes on stigmatised identity. In Waitman, A., and Conboy-Hill, S. (eds.),Psychotherapy and Mental Handicap, Sage, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S. (1980).Social Skills Training with Children and Adolescents, Windsor, NFER-Nelson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Understanding and Controlling Violent Situations (undated): Video. Loughborough University of Technology A. V. Services, Loughborough.

  • Whitman, T. I. (1990). Self-regulation and mental retardation.Am. J. Retard. 94: 347–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. G., and Moorey, S. (1989). The wider application of cognitive therapy: The end of the beginning. In Scott, J., Williams, M. and Beck, A. T. (eds.),Cognitive Therapy in Clinical Practice an Illustrative Casebook, Routledge, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zettle, R. D., and Hayes, S. C. (1982). Rule governed behavior: A potential theoretical framework for cognitive behavior therapy. InAdvances in Cognitive Behavior Research and Therapy, Volume 1, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rose, J. Anger management: A group treatment program for people with mental retardation. J Dev Phys Disabil 8, 133–149 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02578445

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02578445

Key Words

Navigation