Aggression and Mistaken Behavior Chapter 3

Aggression  A behavior aimed at harming or injuring others

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

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.

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……

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

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

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