The Goals of Misbehavior
Psychology Department, University of Maryland Global Campus
The Goals of Misbehavior
“Dreikurs et al. (1998) outlined the goals of misbehavior as a framework to aid counselors and
educators in understanding children’s attempts at achieving certain common goals from a
discouraged (rather than an encouraged) frame of reference. The four goals are: attention (being
seen, noticed), power (being in control), revenge (hurting others because of being hurt), and
display of inadequacy (Cottone, 2017, page 66).”
I grew up with two adopted sisters. In my home, my sisters were often in trouble for
misbehaving while I stayed quiet and mostly stayed to myself. My sisters skipped school,
smoked weed, fought and exhibited most common behaviors of troubled youth. As punishment,
they were beaten and/or had privileges taken away. This lasted until I was about 13 years old.
At that age, one of my sisters was admitted to a behavioral health facility and the other dropped
out of high school and moved in with a biological relative. Today, nearly 20 years later, both of
them are maladjusted adults.
My sisters were adopted into a home with a biological child. I can’t speak on their
experience, but I imagine that was not easy; especially with what they experienced prior to the
adoption. Much of their negative behavior were for attention and control. It is blatantly obvious
that their goal of attention and control likely stemmed from knowing their biological parents
abandoned them. After reading the above quote, I immediately thought of my sisters and how
their behaviors came from being discouraged; and how my parents, though unintentionally, failed
to address the root of their behavior. It makes me sad to think their behavior could have been
fixed.
Psychology Department, University of Maryland Global Campus
The Goals of Misbehavior
“Dreikurs et al. (1998) outlined the goals of misbehavior as a framework to aid counselors and
educators in understanding children’s attempts at achieving certain common goals from a
discouraged (rather than an encouraged) frame of reference. The four goals are: attention (being
seen, noticed), power (being in control), revenge (hurting others because of being hurt), and
display of inadequacy (Cottone, 2017, page 66).”
I grew up with two adopted sisters. In my home, my sisters were often in trouble for
misbehaving while I stayed quiet and mostly stayed to myself. My sisters skipped school,
smoked weed, fought and exhibited most common behaviors of troubled youth. As punishment,
they were beaten and/or had privileges taken away. This lasted until I was about 13 years old.
At that age, one of my sisters was admitted to a behavioral health facility and the other dropped
out of high school and moved in with a biological relative. Today, nearly 20 years later, both of
them are maladjusted adults.
My sisters were adopted into a home with a biological child. I can’t speak on their
experience, but I imagine that was not easy; especially with what they experienced prior to the
adoption. Much of their negative behavior were for attention and control. It is blatantly obvious
that their goal of attention and control likely stemmed from knowing their biological parents
abandoned them. After reading the above quote, I immediately thought of my sisters and how
their behaviors came from being discouraged; and how my parents, though unintentionally, failed
to address the root of their behavior. It makes me sad to think their behavior could have been
fixed.
