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Emotional Disturbances

Emotional Disturbance

Emotional disturbance refers to a number of different social-emotional disabilities. Individuals classified as emotionally disturbed meet several criteria:
An inability to exhibit appropriate behavior under ordinary circumstances An inability to maintain relationships with peers or teachers

An inappropriate affect such as depression or anxiety

Severity and Effects

Individuals

classified as emotionally disturbed represent a range of severity, and the disability itself may be temporary or permanent. Specific emotional disturbance areas include childhood schizophrenia, selective mutism (failure to speak in selected circumstances), seriously aggressive or acting-out behavior, inappropriate affective disorders such as depression, social withdrawal, anxiety disorders, and excessive fears.

Causes of Emotional Disturbance

Most behavioral disorders or emotional disturbances have no known cause. However, possible causes include biological, family, school, and cultural factors. Biological factors are genetic, biochemical, and neurological influences that interact and result in emotional disabilities. Family factors (such as domestic violence) are also considered to be strong contributing factors to emotional disturbance. School factors can also contribute to an emotional disability. Finally, certain cultural environmental factors interact with the individual, the home, and the school and may also contribute to emotional disabilities.

Characteristics

Social Behavior: less mature or inappropriate social skills. Particularly aggressive with peers and adults and cause harm when playing or interacting with others. These students act out in class, do not respond appropriately to discipline from teachers and may seem oblivious to class and school rules.
Affective Characteristics: depression, severe anxiety disorders, and phobias. Academic Characteristics: students may function two or more years below grade level in reading, math, writing, spelling, memory skills, and attention, which may lead to academic underachievement. They are at risk for dropping out of school.