Behaviours of Concern vs Challenging Behaviour

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The short version

“Challenging behaviour” puts the difficulty on us. “Behaviours of concern” puts the care on the person.
Concern comes from a place of care. Feeling challenged comes from a place of defence.
Clinical language can still be hurtful. The test is simple: is this helpful or hurtful?
Reframing is not softening the truth. It keeps the meaning and drops the label.
A person is never their behaviour.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

Really? Because I can think of plenty of words that hurt.

Name calling, derogatory terms, swearing, slurs. There are plenty of words that we learn not to tolerate as a means of practising kindness. Considering our words and language choices, and using mindful communication, is part of being an accountable person. This is particularly notable within the disability sector. In Positive Behaviour Support, the importance of phrasing and reframing our narrative is held in high regard.

The labels we are unlearning

For many years, labels have been bestowed upon those with additional needs who may show behaviours that worry others.

“Challenging”

“Naughty”

“Bad”

As a society, we’re unlearning these labels and finding more empathy and understanding behind the stigma. But plenty of negativity still exists within clinical terms and the way we describe behaviour. I find the best way to remind myself to use kind words is to ask: is this helpful or hurtful?

Helpful or hurtful? Three reframes

Take this phrase: “Amina is non-compliant and shows off task behaviours”. Words that may be clinically common, sure, but hurtful in the sense that they label Amina as her behaviour.

Let’s try a helpful reframe: “Amina stands up for herself and sometimes needs to take a break”. The sentiment still stands, but it holds Amina in a positive, strong light. Choosing to understand her behaviour but not to let it define her.

Hurtful: “Zaven is obsessed with objects and is always stimming”
Helpful: “Zaven has strong interests and shows his excitement with his body”
Hurtful: “Oliver is dependent on others and has tantrums if staff don’t pay him attention”
Helpful: “Oliver loves people and appreciates quality time”

By removing stigma and using positive, solution-focused language, we allow our participants to be recognised for who they are, as opposed to the behaviours that may inhibit their opportunities in life.

So what do we call them?

Those behaviours, those challenges, those disruptions. What do we call them? Is the behaviour itself challenging, or does the behaviour challenge us? Is the participant a concerning person, or is their behaviour of concern?

By choosing to say behaviours of concern as opposed to challenging behaviour, we take another step towards positively reframing attitudes towards participants who use big behaviours to communicate, and we look at the behaviour with genuine compassion as opposed to judgement.

Think about it. If you’re concerned for somebody or something, that usually comes from a place of care. If you feel challenged by someone, that usually comes from a place of defence and misunderstanding. Whilst Positive Behaviour Support looks for the communication behind behaviour, we want to embed our practice in that kind place, and prioritise language that avoids shame.

That same thinking is what separates behaviour support from behaviour management, and it is the language you’ll see used throughout a behaviour support plan.

If you’d like to talk about behaviour support for yourself or somebody you support, take a look at our Behaviour Support Plans service, or get in touch and we’ll walk you through it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between behaviours of concern and challenging behaviour?

They describe the same behaviours, but they place the focus differently. “Challenging behaviour” describes how the behaviour makes other people feel. “Behaviours of concern” describes care for the person showing it, and it separates the behaviour from who they are.

Is “behaviours of concern” the accepted term in Australia?

It is the term used across the NDIS and by most Australian providers and practitioners, including us. You will still see “challenging behaviour” in older documents and in some overseas material.

Isn’t reframing just sugar-coating the problem?

No. A reframe keeps the same information, it just stops the description from becoming a label. “Amina sometimes needs to take a break” tells a support worker exactly as much as “Amina is non-compliant”, and it doesn’t define her by it.

What is person-first language?

Language that puts the person before the diagnosis or the behaviour. Some people prefer identity-first language instead, for example “autistic person” rather than “person with autism”. The right answer is whatever that individual prefers, so ask them.