Psychodynamic Theory In Classroom Management

Classroom management and challenging behaviors are the biggest concerns most teachers have today. The three behavioral theories describe above, I believe has had the biggest impact on how teachers try to change and deal with challenging behaviors today. The Psychodynamic, Behavioral, and Social Learning Models are based on that behaviors are learned, have a cause, or a reason. However, all three behavioral models fail to take into account how other factors can affect behavioral development such as disabilities, genetics, or economics. The biggest difference in all three of the behavioral models in how changes in behavior occurs. The Psychodynamic Model describes how in order to change current behaviors, a person must deal with and heal from

the past. A Psychodynamic therapist will interpret the underlining causes of the behavior and heal the patient from the inside out. Both the Behavioral and Social Learning Models believe that behaviors will be learned through reinforcement and exposure. The Behavioral Model looks at behavior is looked from a functional perspective. In order to change behaviors, interventions are systemically applied based on the principles of the learning theory to improve socially acceptable behavior. However, intervention do not necessarily just apply to individuals but the environment, as well. The Social Learning Model believes behavior can change by reinforcing and exposure to social acceptable and positive behavior. Challenging behavior is the hardest part of a child’s education that teachers tries to figure out. No one theory explains how all behaviors are developed, why or what the causes are for challenging behaviors or mental illness. For teachers, understanding and applying a variety of behavior strategies and theories will help decrease challenging behaviors.