Countering anger management only
In 1996 Joseph Ledoux established that emotion precedes thought. It focuses and directs attention and colours all subsequent thoughts and consequent behaviours. It is a process which is initially subconscious, that is the individual will not be aware of the behaviours which they are delivering until such time as they recognise the emotion going on in them. This does not necessarily apply to all emotions, but it certainly applies to fear.
In 1998 when we recognised that our efforts to bring clients firstly into "intellectual contact" with their emotions was failing we devised a simple chart which I will include here, and for the sake of brevity, explain in a different link.
Many of the consequences of Joseph Ledoux's research were picked up and followed by many subsequent researchers, Antonio Damassio, Allan Schore, and Dan Siegel are just some of many examples. The following quotes are from Dan Siegel's book:
The Developing Mind: how relationships and the brain interact to define who we are. second edition
“emotion directly influences the functions of the entire brain and body, from physiological regulation to abstract reasoning.” 158
“The amygdala receives and sends signals directly from and to the visual system, reacting to visual stimuli without the involvement of consciousness.”
The amygdala can rapidly bias the perceptual apparatus toward interpreting the stimuli as dangerous. All of this occurs within seconds and does not depend on conscious awareness. At least with regard to the fear response, the brain is wired to non-consciously create a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” (Other researchers demonstrate that fear can be aroused in a couple ofhundreds of a second i.e. milliseconds.)
“If the amygdala is excessively sensitive and fires off a “Danger!” signal, it will automatically alter ongoing perceptions so that they appear threatening. This may be a basis for phobias and other anxiety disorders. 61” (We conjecture it may also be the basis of many people "going off on one." )
(p. 159).
“The take-home lesson here is that in humans, awareness of bodily states may be the gateway to becoming conscious of our emotions.” 74
(p. 161).
Instead, we can state that there is a lack of binding of emotion to consciousness. Consciousness is necessary for an intentional alteration in behavior patterns beyond “reflexive” responses.
(p. 162).
Without the involvement of consciousness and the capacity to perceive others’ and one’s own emotions, there may be an inability to plan actively for the future, to alter ingrained patterns of behavior, or to engage in emotionally meaningful connections with others.
(p. 162).