I think it's progress when a person is willing to realize they have a problem in the first place. And also have a genuine desire to work on understanding it and learning how to control it better.

Some individuals genuinely do NOT want to be self aware.

I thought about this thread last night. I had a horrible experience and I ended up facing a husband that talked loud and down to me so badly and was out right mean and called me stupid when I really did not deserve to be treated that way. My husband chose to blow up at me when there was no reason for him to do so and he could have responded in much calmer more respectful way. When he gets in this mindset, he doesn't CARE to know how badly he is behaving, not even when I tell him how badly he is behaving. When he engages this way he is not willing to be self aware AT ALL.

Personally, I respect when someone is willing to recognize they have a problem and wants to actually do something about it.