Aggression and Mistaken Behavior

1. Aggression and Mistaken Behavior Chapter 3

2. Aggression • A behavior aimed at harming or injuring others

3. Two Forms of Aggressive Behavior • Direct Aggression: hitting, biting, using violence to assert one’s will directly upon another • Indirect Violence: includes teasing, threatening rejection, ignoring or otherwise excluding, bullying, spreading rumors, using psychological oppression more than physical hostility

4. Two Uses of Aggression • Instrumental Aggression: using aggression to gain a goal like taking a ball or lining up first • Reactive Aggression: hostile, reactions to frustration and perceived transgressions of others.

5. Level One Mistaken Behavior • Experimentation Mistaken Behavior • Remember they are experimenting, and we need to be sure that we are not reinforcing this or encouraging the use of aggression to achieve their goal……

6. Level Two Mistaken Behavior • Socially Influenced, the children have already learned that aggression works at getting their goals. • We as teachers need to stay calm and have private discussions with the children in question, and may need to have class meetings if it becomes an epidemic

7. Level Three Mistaken Behavior • Strong Unmet Needs level where children have been victimized possibly even brutalized by violence. • We need to work hard individually, catch it before it happens, redirect and develop a trusting relationship with the child, so they can see other options

8. Challenging Behavior • Behavior is challenging if: • Interferes with children's learning, development and success at play • Is harmful to the child, other children or adults • Puts a child at high risk for later social problems or school failure