“How do you manage angry behavior?”
My friend has very angry behavior. How do you manage angry behavior?
4 Answers
Your friend must want to change.
Depending on the severity a therapist and an SSRI may be indicated. Not knowing the individual I can't say for sure.
Depending on the severity a therapist and an SSRI may be indicated. Not knowing the individual I can't say for sure.
Casual answer from me:
First of all, anger is okay. However, misapplied anger is inappropriate. Uncontrolled anger can be redirected. It is important to define what is meant by angry behavior.
Has it been violent?
Has it been aggressive? to objects? people?
What happens before the person gets angry?
Were substances/graphic images involved?
What was the frequency, intensity, and duration of the "angry behavior?"
Did the angry behavior coincide with an unmet need?
Determining the source of the anger is important as well. Since most anger is a reaction, finding the source is significant. Most often, the reasons for a behavior occurrence (positive or negative) are one or a combination of the following: seeking attention; seeking escape/avoidance; seeking control; and/or seeking justice.
Answer from me as a practitioner (MA LSSP - School Psychologist):
For your friend, it is important to know that while challenging, there are answers. Not all answers might be known immediately, yet with time and support, your friend can find new strategies. Mere behavior management is not sufficient for most people to make necessary changes. Finding strategies to replace inappropriate responses is important.
Above all, recognizing the challenge, acknowledging frailty, recognizing a need, using a variety of trusted sources, and avoiding immoral influences that would lead astray are essential elements. Excessive deviant/anti-social influences while trying to make a change can intensify maladaptive responses.
First, it is important to try to help determine the function of the behavior. The function of behavior is the reason why a behavior challenge occurred. Here are some of the most common functions of behavior:
1. attention seeking
2. power/control
3. escape/avoidance
4. justice* *If your friend is a younger child, please consider this. While less common in younger children, seeking justice was found to be a function of behavior that increased in areas where injustice was ignored.
Keep in mind that all people need healthy forms of attention. They also need to have power within reasonable amounts to manage what has been entrusted to them. All need healthy forms of escape, and all need to obtain some form of justice if injustice occurred to them.
Determining the function of behavior is obtained from a variety of sources (with consent): family, educators, other faculty, trusted caregivers, personal comments and reflection, responses to previous attempts to intervene, developmental factors, and/or observations. Rating forms that are interpreted by those credentialed for the intended use of the rating form when used to develop behavior strategies can also be utilized. Keep in mind, however, that the younger the person and the less time raters have known the person within the previous six months, the greater emphasis that someone places on observation.
Observations are best across multiple settings, at various times of the day, on separate days, more than once and in a variety of settings with various activities.
People helping to form strategies (including the person needing adjustment) can start to identify the antecedents/triggers observed before the anger increased. Knowing what happened during and after the anger responses is also important.
Once considered, people can then start to consider replacement behavior strategies to Prevent (P); Teach replacement behavior strategies (T); and Replace/reinforce/repeat the appropriate behavior (R). Most people (even younger, impaired, and/or less aware people) respond to intrinsic motivators to make long-term change. Tangible motivators can also be used. Inward motivation, however, is often most significant.
Most researchers also found that if using rewards for appropriate behavior, it is best to reserve rewards for times when people go above and beyond. If the expectation is for all to follow non-negotiable rules (such as laws and codes of conduct), then people do best to be rewarded for what is negotiable and exceeds those expectations.
Also, while learning new strategies, most people usually see they are struggling. In those moments, it is wise to increase the amount of non-contingent positive encouragement that is extended because the person is in the world. Non-contingent positive encouragement is based off of the concept of unconditional care and support that is not based on mere performance measures. It is easy for people to show positive attention to those that do well in grades and more. Thus, recognizing the humanity of the one making the change is best through unconditional measures that are not based on mere performance. It is essential to let that person know about potential, purpose, presence, humanity, and life.
First of all, anger is okay. However, misapplied anger is inappropriate. Uncontrolled anger can be redirected. It is important to define what is meant by angry behavior.
Has it been violent?
Has it been aggressive? to objects? people?
What happens before the person gets angry?
Were substances/graphic images involved?
What was the frequency, intensity, and duration of the "angry behavior?"
Did the angry behavior coincide with an unmet need?
Determining the source of the anger is important as well. Since most anger is a reaction, finding the source is significant. Most often, the reasons for a behavior occurrence (positive or negative) are one or a combination of the following: seeking attention; seeking escape/avoidance; seeking control; and/or seeking justice.
Answer from me as a practitioner (MA LSSP - School Psychologist):
For your friend, it is important to know that while challenging, there are answers. Not all answers might be known immediately, yet with time and support, your friend can find new strategies. Mere behavior management is not sufficient for most people to make necessary changes. Finding strategies to replace inappropriate responses is important.
Above all, recognizing the challenge, acknowledging frailty, recognizing a need, using a variety of trusted sources, and avoiding immoral influences that would lead astray are essential elements. Excessive deviant/anti-social influences while trying to make a change can intensify maladaptive responses.
First, it is important to try to help determine the function of the behavior. The function of behavior is the reason why a behavior challenge occurred. Here are some of the most common functions of behavior:
1. attention seeking
2. power/control
3. escape/avoidance
4. justice* *If your friend is a younger child, please consider this. While less common in younger children, seeking justice was found to be a function of behavior that increased in areas where injustice was ignored.
Keep in mind that all people need healthy forms of attention. They also need to have power within reasonable amounts to manage what has been entrusted to them. All need healthy forms of escape, and all need to obtain some form of justice if injustice occurred to them.
Determining the function of behavior is obtained from a variety of sources (with consent): family, educators, other faculty, trusted caregivers, personal comments and reflection, responses to previous attempts to intervene, developmental factors, and/or observations. Rating forms that are interpreted by those credentialed for the intended use of the rating form when used to develop behavior strategies can also be utilized. Keep in mind, however, that the younger the person and the less time raters have known the person within the previous six months, the greater emphasis that someone places on observation.
Observations are best across multiple settings, at various times of the day, on separate days, more than once and in a variety of settings with various activities.
People helping to form strategies (including the person needing adjustment) can start to identify the antecedents/triggers observed before the anger increased. Knowing what happened during and after the anger responses is also important.
Once considered, people can then start to consider replacement behavior strategies to Prevent (P); Teach replacement behavior strategies (T); and Replace/reinforce/repeat the appropriate behavior (R). Most people (even younger, impaired, and/or less aware people) respond to intrinsic motivators to make long-term change. Tangible motivators can also be used. Inward motivation, however, is often most significant.
Most researchers also found that if using rewards for appropriate behavior, it is best to reserve rewards for times when people go above and beyond. If the expectation is for all to follow non-negotiable rules (such as laws and codes of conduct), then people do best to be rewarded for what is negotiable and exceeds those expectations.
Also, while learning new strategies, most people usually see they are struggling. In those moments, it is wise to increase the amount of non-contingent positive encouragement that is extended because the person is in the world. Non-contingent positive encouragement is based off of the concept of unconditional care and support that is not based on mere performance measures. It is easy for people to show positive attention to those that do well in grades and more. Thus, recognizing the humanity of the one making the change is best through unconditional measures that are not based on mere performance. It is essential to let that person know about potential, purpose, presence, humanity, and life.
That's very kind of you to look into information to help your friend. Here are some resources to explore from reputable sources, such as articles, books, podcasts, etc.: https://www.apa.org/topics/anger Here is a website that can be helpful for finding support, such as mental health professionals in your area: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us Best of luck to you! Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
The most important part is to understand what causes anger. Anger can be caused by depression, bipolar disorder, or trauma. You need to find the cause of anger and treat the cause.
