ABSTRACT
Biological and medical explanations of behaviour theorise problems as emanating from within the individuals themselves. Difficult or challenging behaviour, from a medical perspective, is the result of an underlying condition, disease or dysfunction which an individual has and which requires treatment. A behaviour problem is seen as an inherent characteristic of an individual. However, because behaviour is also located within a social context, establishing the existence of a condition or disease of ‘difficult behaviour’ or ‘emotional disorder’ as relating to the individual alone and not to the context in which it occurs is fraught with problems.
