Reclaiming Children and Youth [Report]

The meaning of Behavior [Judith Schubert]

The theme of this issue-discovering virtues in delinquents- is and excellent reminder of the power of perception. "Virtue" and "Delinquents" are two words that do not seem to belong in the same sentece, and bu positioning them together, we are challenged to perceive them in a different way. What could be virtuousus about delinquency? [Judith Schubert]

Behavior tends to be categorized as "negative" or "positive". When we evaluate atrisk or troubled youth, we identify their strengths and their deficits. What we often fail to recognize is that seeing a behavior as positive or negative, often has more to do with the context in which the behavior is displayed, rather that with the behavior itself.

1. Positive and negative behavior are often two sides of the same coin.
It is easy to fall into the trap of classify a specific behavior as a strength if the behavior is used in a way that conforms to our values and as a deficit when it is used for purposes we do not support. As a result of this we aften try to extinguish the behavior, rather than chalenge it.

2. All behavior are meaning
No matter what the behavior it means something, it has a function. Rather than drawing immediate conclusion about disruptive or aggressive behaviors, look for pathern that might help decipher hte meaning behind the behavior.

3. Behavior is adaptive
People learn to behave in certain ways as a response to their enviroment. Those who have been institutionalized often develop repetitive behaviors; some may have learned to be manipulative because they were never allowed to express their feelings; another child might have become aggressive.
If a child's enviroment changes, the behavior might no longer be effective or necessary, but it is important to reconnize that at on time the behavior could have been critical to the child's very survival. It good to remember that it will take time to unlearn behaviors that are no longer necessary.

4. So-called "negative" behaviors can sometimes be channeled into positive action.
The actions of troubled youth can be surprising as we watch them engage in behaviors that seem to worl against their own best interests. If we search fot the meaning behing behavior and identify its adaptive function, we are in a better position to help youth channel their behavior in a positive direction that will move them towar autonomy, self-responsability, and productive changes.

[Judith Schubert is president of the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)]

from "Reclaiming Children and Youth - The journal of strengh-based interventions- ( Discovering the Virtues in Delinquent Children) Volume 16 Number 4 winter 2008.