Improving Teachers’ Understanding of Antisocial Orientation

Book excerpt: Teaching can be a challenging and demanding profession because teachers must deliver lessons that meet the educational needs of a diverse range of learners. Student misbehavior during class time is expected, and, therefore, many teacher training programs provide training in classroom management. However, teachers and school staff have expressed concerns about students disregarding classroom management interventions. Furthermore, they have also indicated a lack of training in how to manage and respond to student aggression and violence. Students who are hostile, aggressive, defiant, and engaging in antisocial behaviors are said to be expressing an antisocial orientation. The purpose of this book is to improve teachers’ understanding of such antisocial orientation through an examination of how it is pathologized and assessed, the biological and sociological factors involved in its expression, and the pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for youth with an antisocial orientation. The book concludes with classroom strategies and interventions that can ameliorate symptoms associated with antisocial orientation, and proposes potential modifications to the school environment that can foster a prosocial orientation.