Kinds and Causes of Misbehavior

Kinds of Behavior Problems

The Overly Aggressive Child
The overly aggressive child's conduct is extreme. It is an disharmony with the
child's personality and a source of concern to the school.

Symptoms:
1. Breaking, tearing or destroying property;
2. Causing unnecessary and excessive disturbances;
3. Attacking other children;
4. Interrupting others in a loud, boisterous voice;
5. Resisting authority; andA
6. Expressing a quarrelsome attitude.

Causes:
1. General feelings of insecurity stemming from and inadequate home, school
failure, or lack of acceptance by other pupils.
2. Fear of failure or of displeasing parents or teachers.
3. Lack of attention, love, and consideration by parents and other adults.
4. Rigid, demanding, disciplinary controls or inconsistencies in disciplinary
measures.
5. An absence of controls with too much responsibility placed on the child for
the management of his conduct.

Approaches/Treatment
1. Bolstering his self-esteem through showing his special attention and by
complementing him on his work.
2. Providing experiences through which he he can achieve and gain
recognition.
3. Increasing his opportunities for physical activity where hostile feelings may
be dissipated.
4. Showing him personal attention and interest and encouraging him as he
shows progress.
5. Being friendly, relaxed and patient, displaying a sense of humor as well as
a sincere interest in his welfare.
6. Providing for group counseling or discussion sessions in which problems
and feelings may be aired.
7. Promoting positive feelings and an attitude of good fellowship.
8. Minimizing the need for a youngster to find it necessary to depend to
himself.

The Child Who Bullies

The bully may be regarded as overly aggressive. However, aggression
manifests itself in a number of ways, not all of which are necessarily of the
bullying type. A child may be unduly aggressive and still not bully other
children.

Symptoms
The youngster who bullies others may be observed as follows:
1. Attacking other children, generally smaller than himself, by pushing,
tripping, or hitting and annoying others in a variety of ways.
2. Engaging in verbal attacks by calling names, poking fun, criticizing and
arguing.
3. Expressing belligerence and defensiveness in a loud, boisterous, agitated
voice.

Causes:
1. Deprivation of the psychological needs of love and attention or
inadequacies in fulfilling his physical needs.
2. A strong need for identification with another person, resulting in his
identifying with someone whose behavior is inappropriate as a model.
3. An aggressive,domineering, demanding teacher whose unrealistic
expectations bring frustration and anxiety to the student.
4. Undesirable home conditions, which may include financial problems, low
educational and social status, and lack of parental supervision.
5. Lack of friends, inadequate social skills, and lack of ability to interact
favorably with peers.
6. A bullying family member, teacher or peer who creates a situation in which
the child feels the need to get even.
7. Academic failures which bring frustration, anger and an attitude of futility.

Approaches/Treatment
1. Correcting or improving the undesirable conditions in his life which are
precipitating the problem.
2. Assisting him in finding suitable friends and people with whom he might
associate or identify.
3. Providing for conferences through the guidance service with teachers and
other adults who may be contributing to the problem though unreasonable
demands.
4. Encouraging the parents to show an interest in the child and aiding them in
improving conditions which may be precipitating the problem.
5. Giving him instruction in social skills and creating opportunities for him to
work with, and assume responsibilities in group projects.
6. Correcting any situation in which he is being bullied by another person.
7. Providing classroom enrichment experiences by which he can gain a
feeling of success.
8. Modifying the school program to enable him to fulfill his needs more
satisfactory and always keeping demands and expectations realistic in terms
of his capabilities.