Reasons and purposes for challenging behaviour
Why do young people display behaviour that we find challenging?
It works – think about how you respond when you see someone hurting themselves or others, or behaving in a way that shocks you. Our instincts tell us to react quickly.
It is a way of communicating unmet needs – when you have barriers to communicating with other people and you need people to support you with all aspects of your life, then behaviour can tell people that you need something.
It is a way to gain choice and control – young people with learning disabilities sometimes feel they have very little choice in their lives or control in day to day things, so behaviour that gets noticed can be a way to get what they want.
They have no alternative – if there was a way of communicating or meeting a need that was more effective or easier, they would use it.