Dreikurs' Mistaken Goals Analysis
(AND Dr. Mac's Behavior Change Interventions)
According to Rudolph Dreikurs, kids misbehave and seek "mistaken goals" when they do not have a sense of belonging or being valued by important people in important life settings. Dr. Dreikurs provides a way to determine the function of/reason for a youngster's behavior. The system applies to behavior that results from a desire to socially and emotionally connect with others. It is not intended to explain all behavior. Rather, it provides guidance in understanding youngsters who have "internal" reasons for their behavior (a need to be psychologically attached to others), versus "external" causes.
Of course, kids misbehave for reasons unrelated to gaining personal contact with others. They might be bored with the lesson; the assignment may be too difficult (or simple); medication reactions may lower tolerance levels and behavioral restraint; inadequate or poor parenting failed to teach "manners", love of learning, and respect for others; desire for money/material goods; etc. We should also keep in mind that some youngsters have not yet learned how to behave in the manner expected in schools. Many low income, immigrant, and/or culturally different youngsters may have learned other "right ways" to behave in certain situations and group settings. They may need to be taught the behaviors that you expect them to display in your classroom (or you might have to change your ways to be more accepting of diversity and differences).
However, kids frequently display inappropriate or unmotivated behavior due to a need for belonging; our greatest human psychological need. We all need to feel valued and cared for, and be a contributing member in settings where they find themselves (i.e., home, school, after school activities).
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If students feel disconnected, unappreciated, or unsupported in our classrooms, they progress through a series of stages. First they seek our presence and assistance. If their attempts to develop an emotional connection fail, and they engage us in power struggles. These stuggles are an attempt to express their dissatisfaction and bring us to them (in order to gain the trappings of belonging; eye contact, closeness in space, verbal communication, etc.). When teachers reject the learner further, resentment forms and they engage in actions that retaliate against our failure to emotionally embrace them. However, if we crush their rebellion with harsh disciplinary measures, they finally surrender to their outsider fate, give up trying, and fail to put forth any effort to achieve or connect with us.
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Here's a little background before more detailed explanations and solutions are presented in the instructional videos.
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ATTENTION SEEKING
Pesky, attention seeking behavior results when kids aren't getting the recognition they feel they deserve. If they can't get attention for their positive behaviors (e.g., being on-task, completing work, arriving on time, being nice to others), they'll seek it with inappropriate behaviors. They feel important if the teacher pays attention to them and provides them with extra services. While they desire positive attention, if they aren't skilled at bring it to them (or the adult fails to give positive notice to appropriate behavior), they will engage in inappropriate actions. Negative attention trumps no attention at all. It at least provides the surface trappings of being "important" and "belonging": the person pays attention to you. They may:
-continually call out
-refuse to work unless a teacher hovers over them
-ask irrelevant questions
So be sure to "catch 'em being good".
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SEEKING POWER
If attention seeking doesn't work, youngsters, out of spite, may try to make your professional life miserable. They may:
-argue
-contradict
-lie
-refuse to work or follow directions
-throw a temper tantrum
-tell you to "go take a flying leap"
-behave hostilely toward you
These actions usually bring your undivided attention, giving him or her power over your actions.
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SEEKING REVENGE
If attention or power seeking doesn't work, kids may seek revenge against you or others. Unable to gain power in a face-to-face struggle, they retaliate in secret. Their belief is that: "I can only feel significant if I hurt others. I'm just doing what they've done to me. I don't care if I'm disliked. They deserve this behavior. It is a noble act to stand up to them. It is a victory of sorts to be disliked and to undergo punishment." These kids may:
-treat others cruelly
-set themselves up to be punished
-engage in pranks or vandalism behind your back
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DISPLAYING INADEQUACY 
Was Killroy here?
Underneath the bravado of seeking revenge is deep discouragement. The continued rejection by others eventually makes them feel worthless. They think: "Why even try anymore?" They guard what is left of their self esteem by removing themselves from public and social tests. They think: "If I pretend to be stupid or refuse to cooperate, people will leave me alone." They may:
-passively refuse to participate in class activities
-sit silently and engage in no interaction
-request to be left alone
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SO WHAT DO WE DO
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Dr. Mac takes you beyond the important, but superficial data collection and A-B-C analysis to a deeper understanding of the "why" behind an errant youngster's behavior. Use Dreikurs' system to determine whether the young person is seeking attention, power, revenge, or escape from situation viewed as being unwelcoming and rejecting. The "Mistaken Goals" system of analysis provides assessment teams with additional information for identifying the function of behaviors, and identifying effective interventions.
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In this 55 minute, 2-part engaging video, you'll:
-More fully understand why misbehaving youth are engaging in their errant actions.
-Learn how to recognize which stage of disconnect with the school is responsible for the inappropriate behavior pattern by assessing the nature of the student's actions AND our own feelings during those events.
- Become privy to effective interventions that bring a return of motivation, cooperation, and compliance.
Improve upon the assessment and intervention process by making Driekurs' Mistaken Goals Analysis part of your evaluation and intervention process!
Your price: Just $39.00
As always, you have a money back guarantee... no questions asked.
Contact Dr. Mac at: DoctorMac@BehaviorAdvisor.com
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Helping you steer kids in the right direction.