Evaluation of a Short-term Humanistic Programme for Anger Traits Reduction: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Anger is a defensive mechanism for highly stressful and threatening situations and is considered as the most “negative” emotion, difficult to control and often combined to aggressive behavior. However, anger is just a secondary emotion and useful for the organism as a whole. The present study investigates, in presence of a humanistic experiential learning programme, anger as a personality trait that can be reduced, and its hidden power can be unleashed in order to proceed to active experimentation. This study is based on the hypothesis that anger is considered as an alarm signal indicating unmet needs. Results: Using the STPI instrument for measurements, a significant reduction of the mean personality trait scores for anger (p=0.029, N=35) after eight sessions of the programme has been observed. The mean scores reduction was higher (p=0.01, N=32) in participants who showed a higher mean score of anger (≥ 2) at the pre intervention measurements. Conclusion: This is a preliminary study showing that a short-term (eight sessions) humanistic experiential learning programme for anger may have a significant effect on the reduction of anger as a personality trait. Anger reduction is a result of lower subcortical activity, and opens the gate for the elaboration of beliefs into cortical areas of the brain. Cortical areas can offer a higher degree of freedom of choice and responsibility for more functional behaviours