by Robin Landry

Created on: November 07, 2009

At first glance, requiring anger management courses as part of the licensing process for drivers seems like a reasonable idea. Most of us have probably witnessed aggressive drivers at some point and have heard horrific stories of out of control "road rage" which in the most extreme cases ended in severe injury or even death. But would requiring all new drivers and experienced drivers involved in traffic incidents where aggressive driving may have been a contributing factor to complete anger management courses really be effective? There are some experts who seem to believe that this is doubtful.

In a 2003 article entitled, "An Apology for Anger Management" psychologist Mark Dombeck raises some thoughtful questions about whether mandated anger management courses really work. He makes an interesting comparison between anger management therapy and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Dr. Dombeck asserts that anger management course participants have to possess the internal motivation to control their anger in order for treatment to be effective and this is a problem, because for a lot of people anger is fun.

Dombeck indicates that angry outbursts can result in a powerful rush of excitement and may reinforce an individual's sense of power, strength and righteousness. He also indicates that if a person seeks to validate his sense of self only through repeated angry outbursts this may soon become an essential part of his persona. The person's identity becomes so enmeshed with anger that to stop being angry would be, in a sense, losing his identity.

Individuals prone to anger in general may be even more likely to act upon these feelings while behind the wheel. Automobiles can provide us with a sense of anonymity making it easier to act out against others. Add to this the fact that an automobile traveling at high speed is basically a deadly weapon. Having the ability to use this "weapon" to intimidate and control others through aggressive driving behaviors such as: speeding, tailgating, honking horns, flashing high beam headlights, driving slowly in the passing lane or accelerating when another vehicle attempts to pass may simply contribute to the "rush" and the sensations of power, strength and righteousness that the individual feels. In a strange way, "road rage" may actually be a pleasurable experience for an angry person and mandatory anger management training may not provide sufficient motivation for giving up these pleasurable sensations.

So, if mandatory anger management

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