Challenging Behaviour Definition
Challenging behaviour is a behaviour of such an intensity, duration or frequency that affects the quality of life of the individual and sometimes the physical safety of the person or those around them.
People who engage in challenging behaviour experience difficulties communicating their needs, wants, and desires. They also may face difficulties understanding and interpreting the communication of those around them. Challenging behaviour may be a part of an underlying neurological or neurodevelopmental difference, including:
In many cases, challenging behaviour may lead to reactions that can be restrictive, apathetic and result in exclusion from social and environmental settings. We must work together to build a compassionate society where individuals are understood and treated with the kindness, compassion and social integration that they deserve.
Understanding challenging behaviour is of vital importance for every individual in the community. It is a small step towards creating an inclusive world that is equal for all of us, with all our strengths and weaknesses.
Types of Challenging Behaviour
Behaviours that challenge are a reaction to external stimuli, a desire for communication or an unmet need that the person experiences. Experts in cognitive and behavioural therapy describe challenging behaviour as a functional way for the individual to express their needs and intentions, including:
- Allows the person to stop the interactions, activities or stimulations that make them feel uncomfortable
- Allows the person to start interacting with people
- Helps in providing access to desired objects or activities
- Helps them express pain or a specific sensory stimulation
There are different types of challenging behaviours that are determined by several factors combined with the individual’s unmet needs. The factors that play a role in displaying challenging behaviour include:
- Biological
- Physical
- Psychological
- Emotional
- Environmental
Fortunately, health and social care practitioners have worked hard to develop positive behaviour support (PBS), which provides excellent results in challenging behaviour management.
Let’s discuss in detail the possible types of behaviours of distress that might help family members to recognise the warning signs and seek positive behaviour support practices on time.
Physical Aggression
Physical aggression is a common example of behaviour that challenges that often result from the anger or frustration that the person feels when their needs are unmet. The person can be aggressive to other people, themselves or objects during an aggressive reaction.
Examples of aggressive reactions include:
- Hair pulling
- Throwing objects
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Biting
- Eye poking
- Hand biting
In the case of aggressive behaviour, it’s essential to understand that many people perceive this as the only way of expressing their needs and emotions until they have different methods of communication. With positive behaviour practices, people can learn to communicate in a healthier way.
Verbal Aggression
Similar to physical aggression, verbally challenging behaviours affect the communication of the person, resulting in:
- Screaming
- Shouting
- Arguing
- Using inappropriate or even offensive language
- Threatening
- Name-calling
It’s important to remember that the individual is not trying to hurt you but is trying to express their distress.
Destruction of property
In more severe cases, having needs unmet for a more extended period can result in crisis escalation, such as destroying property at the person’s home or public environment. For example, an individual can:
- Break windows
- Break furniture
- Kick doors
- Smash objects
- Throw things
To reduce challenging behaviour of this type, social carers and family members need to use proactive and positive behaviour strategies to prevent the triggers of behaviours of concern.
Self-harm Behaviour
Self-injurious behaviour is a way of expressing needs, emotional pain, stress or anger by harming one’s own body. People who engage in behaviours that challenge often feel emotionally overwhelmed by certain triggers, and sometimes self-harm is a way they communicate current needs. Examples of self-harm behaviour include:
- Head-banging
- Cutting or scratching with a sharp object
- Burning with heated or sharp objects
- Self-hitting, punching, or biting
Self-harming behaviour can be prevented with a PBS approach, and people can enjoy a happy and meaningful life in the community.
Disruptive Behaviour
Disruptive behaviour explains a set of actions that may disrupt the people and activities around the person, including school, home or a public setting or event. Whilst there is always a specific trigger, often unknown to the public, the person experiencing disruptive behaviour may engage in some of the following activities:
- Standing up when needed to seat
- Calling out in a class
- Swearing or using offensive words
- Shouting or screaming
- Refusing to follow instructions
- Inappropriate behaviour
Many factors can contribute to disruptive behaviour. However, with the proper care and support, people who exhibit challenging behaviour can lead a balanced life, using all their potential.
Examples of Challenging Behaviour
Behaviours that challenge are often present in people who experience communication difficulties resulting from neurodevelopmental challenges, often associated with learning disabilities and severe learning disabilities. Therefore, understanding challenging behaviour is crucial for living in a community where everyone is accepted and respected.
Whilst, in most cases, challenging behaviour requires lifelong care and support, learning the signs on time is of vital importance for preventing the triggers and managing challenging behaviour.
Challenging Behaviour in Children
Just like adults, children go through different emotional phases every day. Feeling frustrated, sad, confused, or disappointed are common among children, and sometimes parents can face a challenge when coping with these intense emotions.
Whilst these emotional reactions are often part of our everyday life, some behaviours are more persistent and difficult to manage for both parents and children. In these cases, we talk about challenging behaviour that affects a child’s psychological, social and general well-being, including daily routines, school life, and family and peer interactions.
Common examples of challenging behaviour in children include:
- Having frequent angry outbursts
- Having frequent aggressive reactions, such as hitting, biting, and hair pulling, towards peers or family members
- Damaging or breaking things at home
- Self-harming reactions such as head banging
- Shouting, swearing, or using offensive words
PBS is an excellent approach to managing challenging behaviour, as it is person-centred and understands the reason for the behaviour.
Challenging Behaviour in Adults
Challenging behaviour in adults is described as an individual’s actions and reactions that may put one or those around them at risk, leading to a poorer quality of life for the person. It also impacts a person’s everyday activities and social interaction.
Challenging behaviour in adults may be presented in several ways, including:
- Aggressive reactions
- Self-hurting reactions
- Destructive reactions
- Disruptive reactions
Challenging behaviour is addressed differently in every individual because every individual is expressing a different unmet need. Through a PBS approach, the desires, feelings and needs of the person are understood, which reduces challenging behaviour.
Strategies for Addressing Challenging Behaviour
Addressing challenging behaviour requires experience and knowledge. But most of all, people who engage in behaviours that challenge need empathy, compassion and emotional support.
Clinicians are skilled in implementing effective strategies to identify and prevent potential triggers of challenging behaviour. Clinicians entail a person-centred and humanised approach, emphasising the person’s strengths and abilities as a positive reinforcement method.
Psychological and behavioural study-based practices promote implementing positive behaviour support (PBS) to address challenging behaviour in children and adults. PBS is focused on using proactive strategies to recognise and eliminate the trigger early on, preventing an emotional outburst in the individual.
With a PBS plan, people have engaging daily routines filled with activities of their own choice, re-focusing their attention on things that make them feel happy and fulfilled.
Unique Community Services Applies Humanised Approach to Address Challenging Behaviour
With our outcome-based approach, Unique Community Services is the leader in providing positive behaviour support delivered by experienced professionals. Our team of expert clinicians are specialised in using unique, holistic strategies that prevent crisis escalation and promote a person’s independence in the community.
We create a nurturing and family environment for the individuals we support, creating an individual care plan designed to a person’s unique needs and desires. Our person-centred approach empowers people and their families to navigate the care and support process, respecting their choices and decisions.
Contact us today. We support individuals with behaviours that challenge across the UK, with offices in Manchester and Leeds.
