The research literature on anger, hostility, and aggression reveals much conceptual ambiguity and confusion, with different definitions of relevant terms. Anger is generally considered to be a simpler concept than hostility or aggression. The author of this paper developed the Surrey Anger Scales (SAS) in an attempt to provide assessments of emotions in both mentally disordered and normal populations. The SAS aim to provide an intellectual profile of anger problems, to enable practitioners to plan targets for intervention and change. The paper outlines clinical findings on anger, together with four therapeutic approaches to anger and anger-related disorders. Clinical practice has shown that interventions are helped by applying the following conditions: (1) the person understands the intervention and its reasons; (2) the person can recall information outside the 'treatment' session; (3) the intervention is personally relevant; and (4) the efforts made are reinforced.
Abstract