TPSYTP: Gartrell & Adler's Theories on Misbehaviours

According to Gartrell, what is "mistaken behavior"?

• A willful wrongdoing

• A moral failure of a child

• A child's developmental attempt to interact with the world

• A punishable act

Which of the following is NOT one of Gartrell's three levels of mistaken behavior?

• Experimentation

• Socially influenced behavior

• Attention-seeking behavior

• Strong unmet needs

What is an appropriate teacher response to a child's Level 1 Experimentation behavior according to Gartrell?

• Firmly punish the child

• Avoid overreaction and use humor

• Call the parents

• Remove the child from the classroom

Which of Adler's four goals of misbehavior is characterized by the child feeling helpless and wanting to be left alone?

• Attention

• Power

• Revenge

• Incompetence/Helplessness

A child who engages in a tantrum to try and control the situation is displaying which of Adler's mistaken goals of misbehavior?

• Power

• Attention

• Revenge

• Incompetence

How should teachers handle children who seek undue attention, according to Adler's theory?

• Give them more attention when they misbehave

• Show them how to appropriately join the group

• Engage in a power struggle

• Punish the child publicly

Which of the following is an example of Level 2: Socially Influenced mistaken behavior, according to Gartrell?

• A child takes another child's toy out of curiosity

• A child mimics a superhero fight they saw on TV

• A child uses inappropriate words to see a teacher's reaction

• A child withdraws due to family issues

How might environmental factors, such as an overcrowded classroom or unclear learning centers, contribute to mistaken behavior? Suggest two changes an educator could make to the classroom environment to reduce behavioral challenges.

• Enforce stricter rules and time-outs.

• Rearrange the physical space to provide clearer learning zones and more room for movement.

• Add more worksheets and desk-based tasks to keep children seated.

• Minimize movement and interaction among children to prevent conflicts.

Answer explanation

Imagine a child displays revenge-based behavior as described by Adler. How might this behavior manifest, and what specific strategies can a teacher employ to de-escalate the situation while fostering a sense of belonging and significance in the child?

• React with punishment to assert control over the situation.

• Use restorative practices, helping the child express feelings and repair relationships.

• Remove the child from the group to avoid further conflict.

• Ignore the behavior until the child calms down.

A child exhibits defiant behavior during classroom instructions, refusing to follow directions and arguing with the teacher. Based on Adler's goal of power, how should you handle this situation to avoid a power struggle while fostering positive behavior?

• Engage the child in a discussion to assert authority and win the argument.

• Avoid arguing, calmly state expectations, and provide choices to help the child feel a sense of control.

• Punish the child for disobedience by removing privileges.

• Ignore the defiance and allow the child to continue arguing.