Challenging behaviour
It is helpful to understand the following things about behaviours that challenge:
- It is the behavior that is the problem not the person.
- These behaviours are not uncommon.
- It is not an illness of disease.
The term ‘challenging behaviour’ is often attributed to individuals with the behaviours that challenge, associating the person as being the problem, whereas it is actually the people around that individual who are challenged by the behaviour.
By using the term ‘behaviours that challenge’ the emphasis is put on the behaviour, not the person. These terms are used interchangeably, for the purpose of this course the term ‘behaviours that challenge’ is used throughout. Individuals who engage in behaviours that challenge are telling the people around them that something is wrong or missing and that they need help and support for things to improve. All behaviour can be seen as serving some kind of a purpose for the person.
Behaviours that challenge is a term that reflects the social judgement implied in the identification of problem behaviour. Describing behaviour as challenging is subjective and relative. What is challenging to one person may not be challenging to another. It is also dependent on context, culture, e.g. swearing at a football match as opposed to in church.
Consider more:
Spend a few minutes thinking about one or two things that you either need to do or have to do to get through the day.
1. How would you feel if those things could not or did not happen? For example if someone took something from you or stopped you from doing it.
2. How would you react? What would you do? How would you act? What would you really do (be honest!)
3. Would your response get stronger depending on the situation or who you were with?