Behavior Cycle

Bjorn Pederson
CI 5331
Oct 11, 2007
 Behavior Cycle

Trigger
Calm / Recovery

De-Escalation Agitation

Acceleration
Peak

Sources
 Calm

Back Home Forward

Forward
 Trigger

Back Home Forward

Forward
 Agitation
• Overt Cues • Covert Cues
– Darting eye – Disengagement
– Hand tapping – Staring off into
– Moving in and out space
of groups – Low levels of
Involvement
– Starting and
Disconnected from stopping
learningactivities
experience
Back Home Forward
Forward
 Acceleration

• Greater student focus to engage teacher

1.Questioning 2. Arguing
4. Minor property
3. Work refusal
destruction

Generally, this is when the teacher recognizes

something is wrong.

Back Home Forward

Forward
 Peak
• Student Behavior • Examples
– Out of control – Hurt others
– Prevention is not – Hurt themselves
possible at this – Cry hysterically
point – Destroy property
– Teacher is forced to
deal with.
– Short “Behavioral
Earthquake”
Back Home Forward
Forward
 De-escalation
• Student • Student Behavior
Appearance – Withdrawn
– Confused – Deny any
– Disoriented responsibility
– Far less agitated – Blame others
– Possible
reconciliation

Back Home Forward

Forward
 Recovery

• Student is generally subdued

– May still avoid talking about Peak
incident

• This is the best time to debrief with

the student regarding the cycle.
– Talking will not “re-trigger” the
misbehavior
Back Home
 Sources
• The IRIS Center

• The PACER Center – Emotional and Beha

• Council for Children with Behavioral Diso

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