Dreikurs 4 Reasons for Misbehaviour, and Ways to Address Them

Leadership model

According to Dreikurs, behaviour is as a result of meeting one of four unmet needs: attention, power, revenge or inadequacy.
Your challenge this week is to practice having a "chat" with a friend, child, student, spouse...random. Ask your volunteer to act as the student in one of the four scenarios in the discussion below. Try to use Dreikurs approach to "diagnose" the unmet need, then redress it using the guidelines here.
Good Luck!
Attention seeking behaviour
Student needs to be noticed…will start small and if ignored, get bigger…
While it is happening:
  • Avoid responding how the student wants you to.
  • Avoid scolding / nagging.
  • Ignore, verbally and non verbally.
  • Reinforce good behaviour by providing attention
The chat:
Do you know why you…?
I would like to tell you what I think…
  • Could it be that you want me to notice you more?
  • Could it be that you want me to do something special for you?
  • Could it be that you want to be special for the group?
Power seeking behaviour
Student is motivated by winning control. Student confronts or ignores authority
While it is happening:

  • Avoid giving in to the students grasp for power
  • Stop the whole class until the student realises their struggle is futile
  • Do not engage in the fight…you will not win!
  • Do something unexpected or funny to undermine the power struggle
  • Ignore behaviour and later find a way to give (appropriate) power to the student
The chat:

  • Do you know why you…?
  • I would like to tell you what I think…
  • Could it be that you want to be the boss?
  • Could it be that you want to show me that I can’t make you do anything?
  • Could it be that you insist on doing what you want to do?
Revenge seeking behaviour
Student becomes devious, hostile or violent due to feeling unjustly treated. They feel everyone hates them.
While it is happening:
  • Avoid using class to ‘help’, it will only exacerbate the problem
  • Try to create more positivity within the class, pairing popular students with isolated ones might work
The chat:
Do you know why you…?
I would like to tell you what I think…
  • Could it be that you want to punish me?
  • Could it be that you want to get even with me?
  • Could it be that you want to show me how much you hated what I did?
Displays of inadequacy 
Student refuses to participate or cooperate due to being overly ambitious, overly competitive or over sensitive to pressure (perfectionist)
While it is happening:
  • Never give up on giving these students encouragement and support
  • Give extra encouragement when student makes mistakes
  • Help other students accept those who feel inadequate (reduce competition)
  • Try to create more positivity within the class, pairing popular students with isolated ones might work
The chat:
Do you know why you…?
I would like to tell you what I think…

  • Could it be that you want to be left alone because you believe you can’t do the work?
  • Could it be that you want to be left alone because you cant be the best?
  • Could it be that you want to be left alone because you want me to stop asking you to complete the task?

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