The Assessment Component In Anger Management

The Conover Anger Management Assessment Consists of the following scales:

Interpersonal Assertion–this scale indicates how effectively individuals use direct, honest, and appropriate expression of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors when dealing with others. It indicates the degree to which one is able to be direct and honest in communicating with others without violating their rights.

Interpersonal Aggression–This scale assesses the degree to which communication styles violate, overpower, dominate, or discredit another person's rights, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. High interpersonal aggression is related to personality characteristics of rebelliousness, resentment, and oversensitive response to real or imagined affronts.

Interpersonal Deference–this scale measures the degree to which communication style is indirect, self-inhibiting, self-denying, and ineffectual for the accurate expression of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. High interpersonal deference is related to the personality characteristics of apprehensiveness, shyness, and oversensitivity to threat or conflict.

Empathy/emotional intelligence–This scale indicates individuals’ abilities to sense, understand, and accept another person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A strong sense of others’ feelings and emotions is a key element to anger management. Empathy is a primary characteristic of skilled communicators. Persons with strong empathy tend to be sociable and outgoing.

Stress Management–this scale assesses perceived skill in managing stress and anxiety. Anger that results in violence is usually triggered by a stressful event that is not appropriately managed. Persons with skills in managing stress positively are competent managers of time and are flexible, self-assured, stable, and self-reliant.

Change Orientation/Motivation to change–this scale indicates the degree of motivation and readiness for change in the skills measured by The Anger Management Map. A high score indicates dissatisfaction with current skills and a strong conviction of the need to make personal changes.

Successful living requires skills and competencies essential to establishing and maintaining a variety of strong and healthy relationships. Effective communication is the key to positive and healthy relationships. Communication is especially difficult under stressful conditions. Stress is usually the trigger for anger. Empathy, the ability to put oneself in someone else's shoes, is a key component in controlling ones anger. Research demonstrates that individuals who possess empathy are less likely to act out on their anger. Assertion is a powerful emotional skill that helps a person to communicate more effectively, honestly, and appropriately. It is the opposite of aggression or deference. Aggression and deference are patterns of communication that need to be altered by the emotional skills of anger control/management and fear control/management. Finally, change orientation is the indication of satisfaction and the magnitude of change perceived as desirable for developing personal and life effectiveness. Change orientation includes the degree to which a person is motivated and ready for change. Change orientation is a reflection of the satisfaction or dissatisfaction with current anger management skills and abilities. This scale is a reliable predictor of an individuals potential for success through training.

The Anderson & Anderson Anger Management Program utilizes the Conover assessment software (with a full audio option for the limited reader), client workbooks, DVDs, posters, and experiential exercises.

George Anderson, MSW,BCD,CAMF
http://www.andersonservices.com/