Challenging Behavior: Meaning, Causes, Role of Care Givers in Minimizing the Effects (Essay Sample)

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Challenging Behavior
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Challenging behavior is a behavior that does not easily go away and it causes difficulty thereby limiting a person’s ability to live a good life. It is challenging because it challenges everyone who provides support to the person so as to understand why it’s happening and to work together to provide solutions (Emerson &  HYPERLINK "/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Stewart+L.+Einfeld%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=7" Einfeld, 2011). Challenging behavior happens due to several reasons but poor parenting is not one of them. It happens as part of an interaction between three factors namely; the individual, experiences, people in their lives and the surrounding. In this regard, it could be a reaction to the environment, it could stem from biological causes, it might be a means of conveying a message, it might be a way through which a person maintains self stimulation and it can also be a sign of abuse. The individuals showing challenging behavior are not the problem that need to be fixed but rather the behavior is a sign that some needs are not fulfilled or there is a problem with communication. In essence, a behavior is challenging if it causes harm to the individual, if it makes the individual so aggressive and if it makes the individual stereotyped. Also, a person with challenging behavior shows signs of hyperactivity, lack of awareness of danger and other non person directed behaviors.
People on the autism spectrum are an example of people with challenging behaviors. Such people have a lot of abilities and strengths but they also have a lot of difficulties in being able to communicate and lack of support makes them so frustrated. If these individuals are not supported to communicate their needs, they resort to other behaviors to pass a message. In most cases, these behaviors yield positive outcomes. Build up of challenging behavior can lead to strained relationships, wrong perceptions of the person and a stop on fun activities thereby leading to poor quality of life for the affected person and their families (Clements, 2005).
Provision of quality support for the people on the autism spectrum requires additional information and knowledge and a range of supports. Without the additional knowledge beyond teaching or parenting, there is bound to be a mismatch between the needs provided and the necessary support. The mismatch usually leads to an increase in the chances of a challenging behavior. Using punitive measures is a situation where challenging behavior is viewed as deliberate usually makes the situation worse. That is why it is important for the caregivers to always remember that autism is a varied and very complicated condition. Due to the complexity, families of the affected individuals are often viewed as the lifetime care givers and they should always be at the centre of all forms of communication and decision making.
People on the autism spectrum have the right to a surrounding that meets their needs and allows them to have free accessibility of life. An autism friendly environment gives freedom and access to preferred activities, has communication support strategies, sensory and social needs and encourages learning activities that build on their strengths. In the society today, the way of life tends to favor reactive and punitive measures to any type of challenging behavior but it is important to note that this often leads to a misunderstanding about the causes and solutions to challenging behavior.
Positive behavior support is based in the science of learning and it is believed to be an effective approach for challenging behavior because of its proactivity and positivity (Stormont, 2008). It increases and strengthens helpful behavior and helps in proper planning and prevention of situations when things go wrong. In most cases implementation of most of the approaches aimed at stopping challenging behavior usually lead to poor quality of lives. For example, modification of the environment with an aim of making the individual more comfortable can worsen situations. Positive behavior support is aimed at increasing the quality of life for all the people involved and respect for their rights. This is why it is the only way through which results can be sustained. It understands that challenging behavior is not meaningless and random and that there is a reason for it. For example, it could be because of biological causes, a response to the environment and a sign of frustration. A complete assessment of the behavior is helpful in working out reasons why it happens and helps in teaching an appropriate behavior that tends to replace challenging behavior and gets the same needs. Carrying out an assessment helps in understanding the individual’s quality of life, strengths and abilities and the necessary support that will help in identifying services that are important in taking care of those with challenging behavior. Through this, a support plan is developed with the aim of creating an environment that reduces things that make challenging behavior more likely. Also, it helps in developing a behavior that tends to replace the challenging one. Carrying out an assessment is important in getting to know the specific needs of a person with challenging behavior, their response to different environments and situations and modes of communication that positively conveys information to the person with challenging behavior.
Other than the care givers wh...