Title
The Resolution of Anger in Psychotherapy: A Task Analysis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2011
Abstract
Anger often is conceptualized as a disruptive emotional force, but it may be seen as an adaptive internal signal that cues self-protective action. In this study, an adaptation of task analysis was used to develop a model of how anger is resolved inpsychotherapy. Episodes with markers of client anger (N = 10) were identified in audio-taped psychotherapy sessions by using clients' feedback. From this analysis, two distinct types of processes leading to the resolution of anger were identified in Paths I and II. Across these paths, clients engaged in interventions such as planning action for the future, meta-communicating about the use of emotions, and differentiating and exploring aspects of emotional experience
Recommended Citation
Kannan, D., Henretty, J. R., Piazza-Bonin, E., Coleman, R., Levitt, H. M., Townsend, M. & Mathews, S. S. (2011). The Resolution of Anger in Psychotherapy: A Task Analysis. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 39, 169-181. doi: 10.1080/08873267.2011.563724
Publisher
Humanistic Psychologist