Prosocial Skills and Challenging Behaviors

Catalog description

This course will span the teaching of both prosocial and challenging behaviors. Moreover, it will cover both the current theories of social-emotional development and the disorders for the school-aged years and adolescence, with some discussion of life-span issues. Focus will be placed on identification/assessment and intervention of social deficits as they impact the schools. Discussion will focus on developing prosocial behavior, thereby facilitating involvement in the least restrictive environment, and how intervention may be adjusted based on needs of students with varying disabilities. Social behavior will be viewed broadly, ranging from the individual's self-perceptions such as self-esteem and self-determination, to his or her ability to engage socially not only in the school but in the family and community. Particular focus will be placed on time-management and self-advocacy for the middle and high school years. Moreover, research regarding the impact on behavior of preconceptions held by teachers and others regarding the students will be studied. Finally, medical, psychological, or related service interventions will be discussed and how the schools collaborate with these professional groups. The second half of the course will focus on behavioral interventions for more challenging behaviors and how issues may change from the elementary to high school years. Environmental modifications, techniques of non-aversive behavioral control and methods to maintain attention, and effective reinforcement techniques will be taught. Techniques such as problem-solving, crisis prevention, and conflict resolution, also potentially used to develop prosocial behavior, will be discussed in relation to more significant behavior problems, including issues such as self-stimulation and self-abuse. Issues related to the law and the range of service provision both inside and outside the school, such as residential placements, will be discussed in relation to challenging behaviors.