Dan

The potential effects that the environment and the behaviour of others can have on individual include:

• Discomfort e.g. too hot, too cold, too noisy, too quiet, too cluttered etc.
• Other’s behaviour may scare or intimidate
• Other’s behaviour may be mimicked
• Boredom, under-stimulation
• Unexpected circumstances
• The communication of others
• Level of support and guidance

Study Notes

There are many factors relating to an individual that can affect their behaviour. Some examples include:

• Self-image/self-esteem – if an individual has a low level of self-esteem they may be caught up in a viscious of cycle of having behaviours because they feel everyone hates them and feeling everyone hates them because they have behaviours.
• Health (mental and physical conditions) – illness and disease may make individuals feel weak, angry, upset, depressed etc. unless they are able to find a way to accept and manage it
• Communication skills – if an individual cannot communicate their needs using appropriate methods such as speech, the may resort to inappropriate methods such as aggression
• Psychological state – if an individual is in a high emotional state (e.g. angry, upset, frustrated etc.) about something they are more likely to display a behaviour
• History/Learned behaviours – if an individual has learned that a particular behaviour results in their desired outcome, they are more likely to do it again. Similarly, if they have had an upbringing where inappropriate behaviour was considered ‘normal’ they are likely to use these methods
• Personality – introverted or extroverted individuals will display different behaviours

Study Notes

There are several methods and approaches available to help individuals manage their behaviour. Sometimes it may be necessary to try a number of methods to identify what works best for each unique individual.

Some examples include:

• Discussion of possible consequences of behaviour whilst individual is at baseline
• Risk perception – helping an individual assess risks realistically
• Modelling – displaying appropriate behaviour in situations can help individuals learn (from example) how to manage those situations themselves
• Be open and honest with indivduals
• Encourage independence and choice
• Use breathing techniques or meditation
• Identify at the need (tangible, escape, attention, sensory) and teach individual more appropriate behaviours to fulfill that need
• Help individual recognise early warning signs and triggers
• CBT
• Encourage use of prescribed medication (as per doctor’s instructions)
• Support individual to set goals
• Use praise when individual manages behaviour appropriately

Study Notes

Legislation is the legal framework upon which policies are based. Care practitioners must ensure their practice adheres to local and organisational policies to ensure that they remain within the law and bet practice.

Legislation such as the Human Rights Act means individuals are free to make their own choices even unwise ones.

Policies such as safeguarding policy will mean that carers cannot agree to confidentiality with clients for certain information passed to them (such as disclosure of abuse) because they have a duty of care to pass this information onto relevant agencies or person(s).