Here are some examples of research currently in progress by consortium members:
Treatment of Clinically Dysfunctional Anger and Aggression
- Exposure-based treatment for angry and aggressive adults
(Dahlen & Berman)
- A 3-year study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, to evaluate two treatments for clinically dysfunctional anger and aggression is underway at the University of Southern Mississippi. Cognitive-relaxation coping skills (Deffenbacher & McKay, 2000) will be compared with an exposure-based treatment. While exposure-based treatments have received insufficient attention, exposure plays a prominent role in all evidence-based treatments for excessive anger, suggesting that it may be a necessary condition for treatment. Thus, we are interested in determining whether prolonged exposure to provocative stimuli can reduce anger and aggressive behavior. If exposure alone can be shown to reduce anger and aggression, it may be possible to identify superfluous components and refine treatment.
- Enhancing treatment motivation among angry individuals (Futral & Dahlen)
Aggressive, Risky, and Unsafe Driving
- Development and validation of an aggressive driving scale (Dahlen & Martin)
- Development and validation of the Trait Driving Anger Scale (Martin & Dahlen)
- Prediction of aggressive driving: The role of driver personality (White & Dahlen)
Mapping Cognitive Processes Associated With Anger
- Angry cognitions in the prediction of emotional and cognitive responses to provocation
- Development and validation of the Angry Cognitions Scale (Martin & Dahlen)
- Validation of the Anger Rumination Scale
Stigma and Public Attitudes
- Public attitudes toward people with anger problems (Martin)