The Anger Management Program and the Batterers’ Intervention Program are two very different approaches to addressing issues of anger and violence. The goal of both treatment programs is to reduce the potential for violence, however, they do so in very different ways.

Before we begin to discuss the differences between an Anger Management Program and the Batters Intervention Program, it is important to understand the definition of domestic violence.  The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.

Description of Anger Management Program

Anger management focuses on teaching individuals to recognize their “anger triggers”.  Its focus is to teach effective methods to manage an individual’s emotions so they may reduce the possibility of an outburst.  Those who participate in anger management treatment groups are usually those individuals who have a momentary outburst of anger with anyone, anywhere about anything.  The manner of expressing anger can be directed both inward and outward.  These programs can range anywhere from 4-12 weeks and are often conducted in a group setting, zoom or similar platform.  In Florida, the anger management program is 10 weeks long.

Anger management group members are taught coping skills such as:

• Time outs
• How to fight fair
• Relaxation methods
• Although there are NO approved curriculums or best practices, specific techniques such as the Cycle of Anger (Triggering event, Negative Thought, Emotional Response, Physical Symptom, Behavioral Response) and the ABC Method of Conflict Resolution (Affective, Behavioral and Cognitive) are often taught.

The common causes of anger management issues can be frequently related to an individual’s lack of interpersonal skills, minimal social filtering, low stress tolerance, life situations, substance abuse and symptoms of mental health disorders.

The goal therefore for anger management treatment is to identify the reasons behind this behavior and provide tools so that healthier and less destructive ways of expressing anger can be utilized.

Description of Batterers’ Intervention Program (“BIP”)

                The Batterers’ Intervention Program (“BIP”) is a specialized treatment program for individuals who have committed acts of intimate partner violence. Typically, individuals are court-mandated into BIP.  Under Florida Statute 741.281 and 741.30, the court shall order that the defendant/respondent attend and complete a batterers’ intervention program. The court must impose the condition of the batterers’ intervention program for a defendant under these sections, but the court, in its discretion, may determine not to impose the condition if it states on the record why a batterers’ intervention program might be inappropriate.

BIP focuses on the underlying dynamics of power and control in abusive relationships.  It utilizes a group therapy setting, zoom or similar platform, to help individuals understand the underlying cause of their violence, develop empathy for their victims and learn healthy and effective methods of communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution.  The duration of BIP is a minimum of 26 weeks long and has a more intensive approach which allows time to examine the underlying issues causing the domestic abuse.

Examples of program topics include:

• A focus on oppression
• Power and control
• Accountability
• Negative self-talk
• Quick fixes vs. long-term solutions
• Boundaries
• Male privilege
• Sex role stereotypes
• Effect on domestic abuse on children

The goal therefore of a batterers’ intervention program is (1) the safety of the victim and (2) offering education to the batterer about the effects of domestic abuse, including reinforcing that domestic abuse is never acceptable in an intimate relationship.

Why Must the Batterers’ Intervention Program be Ordered over the Anger Management Program

It is important to understand that domestic violence is a choice.  It is not just someone who “lost it” momentarily and could not control their anger.  Nor is domestic abuse a mental health disorder. Domestic abuse is a technique utilized to attain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner.  Often batterers will claim to have an “anger management problem” or “they just need to learn to control their anger”.  However, nothing can be further from the truth.  The reality is that batterers are in complete control of their anger.  They purposefully choose to use their anger to exert control over their intimate partners.  Batterers will often control their anger in public.  They portray themselves as calm and rational, usually hiding their violence or extreme anger from friends, co-workers, or others outside of their family unit.

When the batterer’s behavior ultimately becomes public (e.g., an Order of Protection or need for medical attention), the batterer wants others to believe the abuse was not their fault. They blame the victim; “he/she made me do it.”  Because a batterer’s main goal is to obtain power and control over the victim, they will use whatever method they can to keep control over them.  This can include physical violence, humiliation, isolation, financial control, emotional abuse, threats to harm children or pets, suicide threats or sexual violence.  As you can see, anger, is just one of the batterer’s tools.  Anger management classes are therefore not effective in ending the batterer’s desire for power and control.

Many studies show that anger management classes do not prevent domestic violence and abuse, instead it makes it worse.  This is because the abuse intensifies as a result of the tools learned by abusers through the anger management program.  Emotional, physical, and financial abuse tend to increase after abusers take anger management classes.  Anger management classes do not help with domestic violence because domestic violence is not about anger.  It is about power and control over one’s intimate partner.