Clinical Topics & Methods Category

A Meta-analytic Review of Anger Management Activities That Increase Or Decrease Arousal

What fuels or douses rage?

1.75 CE Hour
150 members have taken this course
Skip to Course Registration Info

About the Course

The article explores the effectiveness of different anger management techniques. The meta-analysis compares arousal-increasing activities, like hitting or running, with arousal-decreasing activities, such as mindfulness and meditation, across 154 studies with over 10,000 participants. Results indicate that arousal-decreasing activities are consistently more effective at reducing anger and aggression across diverse settings, while arousal-increasing activities showed little to no effect on anger reduction. The findings highlight the benefits of calming techniques for effective anger management.

This course is based on the reading online article, A Meta-analytic Review of Anger Management Activities That Increase Or Decrease Arousal created by Dr. Sophie L. Kjærvik et al in 2024.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Clinical Psychology Review April 2024

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Dr. Sophie L. Kjærvik

Dr. Sophie L. Kjærvik is a researcher at The Ohio State University, focusing on psychological aspects of aggression and emotional regulation. This is her second publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Dr. Brad J. Bushman

Dr. Brad J. Bushman is a professor at The Ohio State University and an expert in social psychology, particularly in aggression and violence. This is his fifteenth publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Course Creator

Allison Brown, LCSW 149014591

Allison Brown holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice with a Psychology focus and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works at a Long-Term Insurance company bringing clinical experience to claim processes. Additionally, she developed and continues to lead the Continuing Education Program for Social Workers and Nurses and often leads complex process improvement projects Prior to this, her primary focus was in mental health and worked in both the outpatient and inpatient settings providing support to adults with mental illness.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Identify the effects of arousal-decreasing and arousal-increasing activities on anger management.
  2. 2 Discuss the implications of arousal-decreasing activities on anger reduction across different demographics and settings.
  3. 3 Analyze the theoretical underpinnings that explain why arousal-decreasing activities may be more effective than arousal-increasing activities for managing anger.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Course Creator

Allison Brown, LCSW 149014591 – No relevant financial relationships.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Wyoming Board of Psychology

1.75 CE credit hour
Eligible until Feb 14th, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
More Info

Joint Accreditation (JA)

1.75 Psychologist CE credit hour
1.75 Social Worker CE credit hour Clinical
Eligible until Feb 14th, 2028
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
More Info
Logo: Jointly Accredited Provider (tm) - Interprofessional Continuing Education

American Psychological Association (APA)

1.75 CE credit hour
Eligible until Feb 14th, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
More Info
Logo: American Psychological Association

Course Material

References begin on page 12

PDF of course material

Access Course Material

Viewing External Material

This course material is hosted by , a web site separate from Impact CE. When you're done, just close the tab/window to return to this course page.

Exam Questions

All exam questions for the course are visible on this page for members of Impact CE.

Membership is free, and you can register today! You'll only pay when you're ready to purchase a course, or if you take advantage of the Unlimited Package.

If you're already a member, please sign in to see the exam questions for this and all other courses.

Discuss this course

You can share your thoughts about this course after you pass the exam.

Sign In or Register to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most likely. Look Up Your State Board for more detailed information. Logged-in site members will see the relevant approval information displayed in the Approvals tab for every course.

If you are having trouble using Impact CE, please contact us! We would be happy to accommodate your needs right away, and your input will help us make Impact CE more accessible for future users too.

Use the Enroll In This Course button and just follow the instructions! You don't pay anything until you're ready to take an exam.

To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

Most of our self-paced courses are based on online articles available for free to the public. Some courses, such as those based on books, require that you purchase the material. Use the Materials tab for more info. Live courses simply require that you attend.

Your certificate(s) will be available to download or email immediately when you pass the course exam and complete the evaluation.

Yes! Use the Help widget at the bottom-right of the screen anywhere on Impact CE to search our help docs, or to ask our support team for help. Unlike most of our competitors, Impact CE has live US-based support reps to help you by email, chat, or phone.

Start your CE Journey now - complete your first course today, on us.

Try for free - no commitment required.

Copyright © 2026 CE Learning Systems LLC

Please Confirm