Guidelines for Helping to Determine Between Emotionally Disturbed and Socially Maladjusted
Behavior Area
School Behavior
Attitude Toward School
School Attendance
Educational Performance
Emotionally Disturbed
Unable to comply with teacher requests; needy or has difficulty asking for help
School is a source of confusion or angst; does much better with structure
Misses school due to emotional or psychosomatic issues
Uneven achievement; impaired by anxiety, depression, or emotions
Difficulty making friends; ignored or rejected
Socially Maladjusted
Unwilling to comply with teacher requests; truancy; rejects help
Dislikes school, except as a social outlet; rebels against rules and structure
Misses school due to choice
Achievement influenced by truancy, negative attitude toward school, avoidance
Accepted by a same delinquent or socio-cultural subgroup
Peer Relations and Friendships
Perceptions of Peers
Social Skills
Perceived as bizarre or odd; often ridiculed
Perceived as cool, tough, charismatic
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal Dynamics
Poorly developed; immature; difficulty reading social cues; difficulty entering groups
Inability to establish or maintain relationships; withdrawn; social anxiety
Poor self-concept; overly dependent; anxious; fearful; mood swings; distorts reality
Affective disorder; internalizing
Well developed; well attuned to social cues
Many relations within select peer group; manipulative; lack of honesty in relationships
Inflated self concept; independent; underdeveloped conscience; blames others; excessive bravado
Conduct disorder, externalizing Locus of Disorder
Aggression Hurts self and others as an end Hurts others as a means to an end
Anxiety
Affective Reactions
Conscience
Sense of Reality
Developmental Appropriateness
Risk Taking
Tense; fearful
Disproportionate reactions, but not under student’s control
Remorseful; self critical; overly serious
Fantasy; naïve; gullible; thought disorders
Immature; regressive
Avoids risks; resists making
Appears relaxed; “cool”
Intentional with features of anger and rage; explosive
Little remorse; blaming; nonempathetic
“Street-wise”; manipulates facts and rules for own benefit
Age appropriate or above
Risk taker; “daredevil”
Substance Abuse choices
Less likely; may use individually More likely; peer involvement
Adapted from Social Maladjustment: A Guide to Differential Diagnosis and Educational Options (Wayne
County Regional Educational Service Agency - Michigan , 2004)