3.4 How the behaviour may potentially impact own and others feelings and attitudes: short-term, long-term

This guide will help you with answers for Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Behaviour that Challenges 3.4 How the behaviour may potentially impact own and others feelings and attitudes: short-term, long-term.

Challenging behaviour can profoundly affect everyone involved, from support workers to the individuals exhibiting the behaviour, and even the surrounding environment. This detailed exploration aims to provide a clear understanding of how such behaviour impacts feelings and attitudes both in the short-term and long-term. This knowledge is essential for support workers who need to manage these behaviours effectively.

Short-term Impact on Own Feelings and Attitudes

Stress and Frustration

Encountering challenging behaviour often leads to immediate stress and frustration. These feelings arise from the unpredictability and intensity of the behaviour. Support workers may feel overwhelmed, especially if they are unsure how to handle the situation effectively.

Stress: A heightened state of alertness and anxiety.
Frustration: Feeling blocked in efforts to manage the behaviour.

Self-doubt and Anxiety

In the short term, self-doubt and anxiety are common. When previous strategies fail or the behaviour is unexpected, you might question your skills and feel anxious about future interactions. This can lead to a lack of confidence.

Self-doubt: Questioning your own abilities.
Anxiety: Worrying about future encounters with the challenging behaviour.

Compassion Fatigue

Constant exposure to challenging behaviour can lead to compassion fatigue. This phenomenon occurs when continuous stress diminishes your ability to empathise with others. It can develop quickly, mainly if the behaviour is severe and ongoing.

Compassion Fatigue: Reduced capacity for empathy due to constant exposure to stress.

Impact on Job Satisfaction

Dealing with challenging behaviour can impact your job satisfaction, leading to feelings of demoralisation. If you believe that your efforts aren’t making a difference, it can affect your motivation and overall attitude towards your job.

Job Satisfaction: A sense of fulfilment and contentment with your work.
Demoralisation: Feeling discouraged and less motivated.

Short-term Impact on Others’ Feelings and Attitudes

Emotional Distress

Witnessing challenging behaviour can cause immediate emotional distress among colleagues, other service users, and family members. They may feel upset, scared, or helpless, particularly if the behaviour is aggressive or disruptive.

Emotional Distress: Feelings of fear, sadness, or helplessness.
Aggression: Hostile or violent behaviour.

Negative Perceptions

In the short term, others might develop negative perceptions towards the individual exhibiting challenging behaviour. They may view the individual as difficult or problematic, which can affect their willingness to engage with them positively. In addition, this negative perception can also affect the individual’s opportunities for social interaction and inclusion in various settings, such as school or the workplace. This can have a negative impact on individuals by limiting their access to support and resources, further exacerbating their challenging behaviour. Therefore, it is important to address and change these negative perceptions in order to create a more positive and supportive environment for the individual. Moreover, fostering understanding and empathy among peers and colleagues can significantly mitigate the impact of behavior on individuals who display challenging conduct. Educational programs and awareness initiatives can help reshape perceptions, encouraging a culture of support rather than judgment. By promoting open dialogue and providing resources for coping strategies, society can better support these individuals, ultimately leading to more inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and understood.

Negative Perceptions: Viewing the individual unfavourably due to their behaviour.
Engagement: Willingness to interact positively.

Disruption of Routine

Challenging behaviour can disrupt the daily routines of everyone involved. This can lead to feelings of irritation and impatience, particularly if it affects the smooth functioning of day-to-day activities.

Disruption: Interruptions to normal routines and activities.
Impatience: Feeling annoyed due to delays or interruptions.

Long-term Impact on Own Feelings and Attitudes

Burnout

Over time, dealing with challenging behaviour can lead to burnout. This long-term stress response, characterised by emotional exhaustion, can severely impact your mental health and job performance. Burnout can make it difficult to continue in your role effectively.

Burnout: Severe stress leading to emotional exhaustion and reduced performance.
Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling drained and overwhelmed emotionally.

Professional Development

On a positive note, consistently dealing with challenging behaviour can lead to significant professional development. Over time, you may develop better coping strategies, improved problem-solving skills, and greater resilience.

Professional Development: Growth in professional skills and abilities.
Resilience: The ability to recover from difficulties.

Change in Attitudes

Long-term exposure to challenging behaviour can also alter your attitudes. You might become more patient and understanding, or conversely, more cynical and detached. These changes depend on your coping mechanisms and the support you receive.

Patience: Increased tolerance and understanding.
Cynicism: Distrust and pessimism about people’s motives.

Long-term Impact on Others’ Feelings and Attitudes

Stigmatisation

Over time, the individual exhibiting challenging behaviour may become stigmatised within their community. This can lead to social isolation and a lack of opportunities for meaningful engagement.

Stigmatisation: Being labelled negatively due to behaviour.
Social Isolation: Lack of social interactions and relationships.

Family Dynamics

Challenging behaviour can also affect family dynamics in the long term. Families might feel ongoing stress and strain, leading to relationship breakdowns or altered family roles.

Family Dynamics: The patterns of interaction and relationships within a family.
Strain: Stress affecting relationships and cohesion.

Community and Workplace Atmosphere

In a community or workplace setting, persistent challenging behaviour can create a negative atmosphere. Colleagues and other service users might feel continuously on edge, impacting overall morale and cohesiveness.

Atmosphere: The overall mood and environment.
Morale: The overall sense of optimism and enthusiasm in a group.

Ways to Mitigate Impact

Support and Training

Regular training sessions to equip you with the latest strategies for managing challenging behaviour.
Access to support groups or counselling to discuss feelings and share solutions.

Self-Care Practices

Engaging in regular self-care activities to manage stress and prevent burnout.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help maintain emotional balance.

Open Communication

Encouraging open and honest communication within the team and with families.
Regular debriefing sessions to reflect on incidents and improve approaches.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the short-term and long-term impact of challenging behaviour on your own and others’ feelings and attitudes is important. By recognising these impacts, you can better prepare yourself to handle challenging situations with greater empathy and effectiveness. Use the strategies outlined to mitigate negative impacts and ensure you maintain a healthy, supportive working environment. By doing so, you can improve not only your job satisfaction but also the overall quality of care provided to individuals exhibiting challenging behaviour.

Example answers for unit 3.4 How the behaviour may potentially impact own and others feelings and attitudes: short-term, long-term

Example Answer 1: Impact on My Own Feelings and Attitudes (Short-term)

When faced with challenging behaviour, I often feel immediate stress and frustration. For example, if a service user is being verbally aggressive, I find myself becoming tense. I sometimes question my abilities because I worry that I might not handle the situation correctly. This anxiety makes me feel less confident in my skills, especially when the behaviour is unexpected and intense.

Example Answer 2: Impact on My Own Feelings and Attitudes (Long-term)

Over time, dealing with challenging behaviour can lead to burnout. I have experienced emotional exhaustion, where I feel drained and overwhelmed. However, on the positive side, I have also developed better coping strategies. I’ve become more resilient and patient, which helps me manage these situations better over time. Nevertheless, it’s essential for me to engage in self-care to prevent burnout.

Example Answer 3: Impact on Others’ Feelings and Attitudes (Short-term)

Colleagues and other service users witnessing challenging behaviour often feel scared and upset. For instance, if a service user becomes physically aggressive, it causes immediate emotional distress to everyone around. This can lead to a negative atmosphere, and some colleagues might feel helpless or unsure about how to intervene effectively.

Example Answer 4: Impact on Others’ Feelings and Attitudes (Long-term)

Long-term exposure to a service user’s challenging behaviour can lead to stigmatisation. Other service users might start to see the individual as problematic, which can result in social isolation for that individual. This stigmatisation can further strain relationships within the care setting and negatively impact the overall community atmosphere.

Example Answer 5: Strategies to Mitigate Negative Impacts

To manage the impact of challenging behaviour, I find regular training sessions helpful. Learning new strategies helps me feel more prepared and confident. Also, open communication with my team allows us to share experiences and solutions. Engaging in self-care practices, like mindfulness, also helps me maintain emotional balance and prevent burnout.

Example Answer 6: Professional Development and Changing Attitudes

Consistently dealing with challenging behaviour has led to significant professional development for me. I’ve become more skilled in problem-solving and have developed a greater sense of resilience. Over time, I’ve noticed a positive change in my attitude, becoming more patient and understanding. This has improved my ability to provide compassionate care, despite the difficulties involved.