ABSTRACT
Behavioural difficulties present a serious and continuing challenge to those who live and work with people who have learning difficulties. The incidence of significant behavioural disturbance among this group is considerably higher than in the general population. Approaches to the management of the behavioural disturbances of people with learning difficulties have, just like the models for understanding the people themselves, been simplistic and quite narrowly focused, often influenced by the carer's own professional background. Many people with learning disabilities are exposed to a large number of these influences, which are likely to interact with each other. Thus the determinants of behavioural and emotional difficulties in this group are likely to be many and they are likely also to be complex. A relative approach to helping people overcome behavioural and emotional difficulties is one which focuses on people's interpretations of events. According to 'humanistic' perspectives, people are viewed as motivated by a desire for personal growth and self-fulfilment.
