Revenge-Seeking Behaviors
Characteristics of
Revenge-Seeking Behaviors
•Angry students that rarely have good days.
•Retaliating for real or imaginary hurts.
•Their folders often use the words “mean,
vicious, or violent.
•Maybe physical or verbal attacks.
Revenge-Seeking Types
Active forms types:
•Direct physical attacks
•Indirect physical attacks
•Psychological attacks
•Verbal attacks
•Passive form is withdrawl.
How to Identify
Revenge-Seeking Behaviors
Clue 1: Your emotional gauge is boiling.
Clue 2: Our impulsive reaction is to strike back.
Clue 3: The student’s response to correction.
Revenge-seekers can not change easily or
quickly.
Revenge-Seeking Origins
•Violence is everywhere.
•Media.
•Students’ Legitimate Needs
Prevention Strategies
1.Build caring relationships.
2.Teach appropriate expressions of feelings.
3.Try to derail the behavior before it escalates.
4.Recruit assistance early.
Guideline 1: Avoiding and
Defusing Confrontations
Focus on the Behavior, not the student.
•Describe the behavior, don’t evaluate.
•Deal with the moment.
•Be firm and friendly.
Guideline 2: Take Charge of
Negative Emotions
• Control negative emotions.
• Release negative emotions.
Guidelines 3: Avoid Escalating
the Situation
Typical teacher responses that usually backfire.
•Raising my voice or yelling.
• Saying “I’m the boss.”
•Using physical force.
•Preaching.
•Making assumptions.
•Nagging.
•Throwing a temper tantrum.
Guidelines 4: Discuss
Misbehavior Later
1. A firm, direct, and friendly intervention
can be held privately.
2. Allow some cool down time for the
student and yourself.
3. Ensure the student that you care
about them.
4. If you try to correct the behavior
during class it will likely escalate.
Guidelines 5: Allow Students
To Save Face
•Students know that you hold
the ultimate power. They want
their 5 minutes of fame.
•By insisting that the student
do it your way, you may be
igniting another confrontation.
Stages of a Classroom Volcano
•Rumbling Stage: Make a
graceful exit.
•Eruption Stage: Use
time-out or call for help.
•Resolution Stage: Set
consequences and conduct a
teacher-student conference.
Let’s Practice What
We’re Learned!
In a small group, role play how a teacher
can provide an intervention to a student
that is a revenge-seeker!