Healthy Anger

Abstract

Abstract Whether dealing with the tantrums of a demanding two-year-old, or the hostile, rejecting rage of a distraught teenager seeking greater independence, dealing with a child’s anger is one of the most frustrating and challenging tasks faced by a parent. While some children learn constructive strategies to manage anger, many learn ineffective ways that may lead to more severe emotional and behavioural difficulties, such as underachievement, depression, interpersonal conflict, and, in extreme cases, even violence. In Healthy Anger, psychologists and anger expert Dr Bernard Golden helps us understand how children experience and express anger and how parents can help them to manage this complex and charged emotion. Rather than just examining the child’s disruptive behaviour, Golden focuses on parent-child interaction, teaching parents constructive ways to respond to the whole child. Anger, Golden explains, is a natural emotion that is distinct from behaviour that is aggressive. He emphasizes that anger does not occur in isolation, but rather in the context of individual needs, attitudes, perceptions and emotions. Golden helps parents work with their children to identify the causes of their anger, and then to implement strategies for coping in a healthy way. He gives parents constructive guidance for helping to understand “child logic”, talking about anger and forgiveness, responding to escalating anger, rewarding good behaviours, and recognizing those children and teens who need professional help. Throughout the book, Golden includes clear, step-by-step instructions for exercises and tasks that will build coping strategies and build problem-solving skills for managing and channeling anger in healthy ways. Healthy Anger is an accessible and comprehensive guide for parents, teachers, and clinicians who work with children and teens.