On my Facebook page we considered those who have become disaffected; that is, children, young people or older learners who can be described as beginning to reject or having rejected their school and its curriculum or aspects of life more generally as irrelevant to their needs.

We will now consider other emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The term emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) is used in relation to children or young people who have difficulties controlling their behaviour and emotions. Their ability to learn is thereby effected and they may also find it hard operating in a social setting. Many children and young people will go through periods when they are anxious, moody or difficult in response to situations at home at school or in the work place, But the problems regarding EBD children are more intractable. Some may become very withdrawn, while others may be disruptive or disaffected. 

Withdrawn children or young people under-react to situations and may be quiet and passive. They may have a very poor self-image and appear unhappy. They may suffer from depression or a deep seated feeling of insecurity or they may be emotionally damaged through physical, sexual or verbal abuse.

Aggressive children or young people are a problem to others as well as themselves. Their inability to fit into socially accepted norms of behaviour make them difficult to control in the home, classroom or work place. They may have been over indulged and allowed to believe that their own needs are more important than anyone else’s, or they may have become undisciplined through inappropriate social modelling and/or a lack of parental care, control or understanding. 

As mentioned below other disabilities are interspersed with visual impairments to help understand the concept of multiple disability along with a visual impairment (MDVI). Keep in mind though that they do not impact as separate entities but instead together and thereby making life even more demanding for the learner in question.

(For more information on multiple disability along with visual impairment [MDVI] go to my Facebook page.)

Characteristics of a withdrawn person

• Expressionless
• Deeply unhappy
• Over-sensitive to any criticism – unable to tolerate teasing or personal remarks
• Low self-esteem
• Anxious to conform
• Lacks interest in work and under-achieves, but make exhibit obsessive behaviour or an all absorbing interest in a particular hobby or topic
• May be the victim of bullying and tries to avoid going to school, college or work
• A loner who is ignored by others rather than being actively disliked
• Unable to form close relationships
• Ill-at-ease in social situations

Characteristics of an aggressive person

• Noisy and demanding, wants own way and immediate attention
• Poor concentration
• Verbally and physically aggressive, will hit out, rush, punch and kick, and could be a bully
• Shouts out and can be disruptive
• Wanders about and is disobedient
• Uses unacceptable language
• Disregards rules
• Under achieves
• May truant

Managing these issues is developed extensively within my book for example, WHAT IS RED? A POPPY’S RED.