Gaining control: Anger management group for adolescents

Anger is an emotion frequently experienced by people in response to threat, frustration, pain, and so forth (Hendricks, Bore, Aslinia, & Morriss, 2013). The expression of anger depends on the magnitude of the emotion, situation, and preference in coping methods (Novaco, 1976). Regardless of whether an individual expresses anger in- or outwards, there are social, mental, and physical consequences on ineffective communication of anger. Among individuals of all age groups, adolescents are most negatively impacted by the inability to cope and adequately express anger (Herrmann & McWhirter, 2003). With proper training, adolescents can learn to express their anger effectively, and, therefore, decrease the negative outcome of anger (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Most of the current anger management groups for adolescents focus on utilizing the cognitive-behavioral model or other single theoretical approach. However, people vary in their abilities to learn in different modalities based on Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences (Gardner, 2008). Therefore, the current project aims to integrate different intelligences to the cognitive-behavioral approach to maximize the efficacy of the treatment.