Anger, overcontrol, and serious violent offending

With few exceptions, existing theoretical and clinical analyses of anger in relation to violence have concerned themselves with the understanding and management of high levels of angry experience and low levels of anger control. In contrast, clinical observations and other accounts of those with histories of extreme violence have identified inhibited or unexpressed anger as an important antecedent for some forms of violence. In this paper we review existing models and accounts of dysfunctional low levels of angry experience and/or expression, apply recently developed theories of emotional regulation to these problems, and discuss some of the implications of this work for the delivery of anger management programs for seriously violent offenders.