If you work in healthcare, you will have to deal with problem behavior. Whether you work with young children, teenagers or the elderly, problem behavior can occur in every age group. There are roughly 3 different ways in which you can deal with this problem behavior as a guidance counselor (or as an informal caregiver, family member, etc.).
How does problem behavior arise?
There can be various causes for problem behavior, which can be divided into the following categories:
- Physical causes; are disabled, have back problems, are temporarily unable to walk…,
- Organic causes; heart problems, poor condition…,
- Individual factors; varies greatly from person to person…
- Age phase; Growing older comes with defects and with puberty comes problem behavior…
- Psychological factors; someone who is mentally unwell is more likely to (unconsciously) cause problem behavior…,
- Environmental factors; what kind of culture do you live in, what kind of environment, how are you treated…
- Persons in the immediate vicinity; have a great influence on how someone expresses themselves…
Dealing with problem behavior
As described in the introduction, there are roughly 3 ways to deal with problem behavior, namely the self-control approach, gentle teaching and behavioral therapy. These methods are applied in healthcare through guidance, but can also contain good tips for informal caregivers and other family members.
The self-control approach
People who use this method assume that the person who exhibits problem behavior also experiences discomfort from it and wants to get rid of it. Guidance/informal care can support him and help him regain control of his own behavior. Important here are; accurate observation of the behavior, good description of the behavior and the way of looking at the problem behavior of the person himself. After these 3 things have been inventoried, you can talk to the person in question and discuss whether he would like to get help to regain control of his own life.
Gentle teaching
According to this theory, you can help people with problem behavior by developing feelings of security and safety. People with problem behavior need a secure basis to gain influence over their own behavior. It is very important to show the person that you respect him, that he is accepted as he is, receives guidance in solving the problem and that he feels safe. Remember that it is just as important to communicate with the person about what they want and what they do not want. Furthermore, you should not take the reins completely out of his hands, but also let him participate himself.
Behavioral therapy
Behavioral therapy focuses on changing behavior. This includes the following basic principles;
- Behavior is determined by environmental influences,
- Behavior is a response to a certain stimulus,
- People let their behavior be guided by what they expect from the consequences,
- Learned behavior can also be unlearned.
In short, someone has learned the problem behavior, probably because it had positive consequences for him. Then he will show that behavior again. A good example is an ‘annoying’ child who gets attention when he or she behaves in an annoying way. Attention in a negative form, but still more attention than the other children at that moment. If the child wants attention at a different time, it will show annoying behavior.
Moreover, the environment, and also stimuli from that environment, play a major role. This actually works the same as the learned behavior. The child thinks he will go outside when mom takes the shoes and will start to act annoying when it turns out that he is not allowed to go, even though he really wanted to.