CREATIVE AGGRESSION THERAPY

The creative aggression CAG approach to individual and group psychotherapy is a body of theoretic principles and practical clinical methods that minimize, by rendering harmless, the hostile, hurt-oriented component of human aggression. CAG offers new ways of maximizing the playful, assertive, “impactful,” cathartic, information-rendering and affection instigating effects of open and honest confrontations between intimates — friends, family members, spouses, lovers, and coworkers. The Fair Fight System provides angry and conflicted intimates with rules, rituals, and coping techniques that reduce the fear of aggression, avoid hurtful hostility, and facilitate basically good-willed “combatants” to fight fairly — not against each other, but for improvements in their relationship. CAG is differentiated by definition and by origin from so-called Assertion Training.

CAG was developed and reported on before 1960, long before others took the assertive — I call it impact — aspect out of the context of the Creative Aggression principles. Also, Assertion Training considers anger and aggression unnecessary (as in Rational-Emotive Therapy), without providing methods of constructive utilization of this basic human energy source. The Creative Aggression approach, however, helps patients and therapists to utilize — rather than to defensively deny, displace, or overcontrol — frustration, anger, and hostile feelings.