Anger is a response to provocation or threat. People often describe it as a pressure cooker emotion where it builds up to a point of blowing out all the steam at once. People often state that they just have to "release and let it out." The problem is that the methods that people use to release their anger is often explosive and harmful to others. People describe anger as something that they act on first and think about later, which can lead to guilt, shame, and problems in relationships. The central concern in anger management is what to do with the steam as one feels it boiling up. 

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In Anger Management, it is often important to start with a behavioural approach to anger in an effort to develop strategies to manage what one does when one feels anger boiling up. Once behavioural strategies have been employed, it can be useful to look at the triggers of anger in order to get ahead of it. Following this, it can be useful to take a look at how one interprets the threat or provocation; for example, perhaps somebody is stressed out and tired rather than a real threat to us. When people learn to manage their anger, they report feeling distanced from it because it no longer controls their behaviours. It still exists but people learn to see it coming at a distance and feel prepared for it. People with advanced management skills are able to view anger as something useful; for example, perhaps it is trying to tell them that they feel taken advantage of or hurt by someone's comments. This can lead to greater communication and understanding between people that may have otherwise gotten lost in a fury of steam.