Rudolf Dreikurs developed Alfred Adler's theory of individual psychology into a method for understanding misbehavior in children. Dreikurs' classroom management theory views misbehavior as a child's way of communicating and seeking to fit in. The theory classifies four goals of misbehavior: attention-getting, power and control, revenge, and feelings of inadequacy. For attention-seeking behaviors specifically, the document recommends giving children positive attention to meet their need for feeling significant, rather than just reacting negatively to their misbehaviors.

1. 042#Dreiker’s Classroom Management Theory
Pedagogy TLS

2. Who was Rudolf Dreikurs?
Rudolf Dreikurs, (born February 8, 1897, Vienna, Austria—died May 25, 1972, Chicago, Illinois,
U.S.), Austrian-born American psychiatrist and educator who developed the Austrian psychologist
Alfred Adler’s system of individual psychology into a pragmatic method for understanding the
purposes of reprehensible behaviour in children and for stimulating cooperative behaviour without
punishment or reward.
The Dreikurs theory for classroom management, sometimes called Rudolf Dreikurs' theory of Social
Discipline, acts as a framework for thinking through how to respond to problem behaviors in the
classroom.

3. Alfred Adler
Individual psychology, body of theories of the Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler, who held that
the main motives of human thought and behaviour are individual man’s striving for superiority and
power, partly in compensation for his feeling of inferiority. Every individual, in this view, is unique,
and his personality structure—including his unique goal and ways of striving for it—finds
expression in his style of life, this life-style being the product of his own creativity. Nevertheless,
the individual cannot be considered apart from society; all important problems, including
problems of general human relations, occupation, and love, are social.

4. Dreikurs model of Social Discipline
Which is based on the Principles of psychology, acknowledges student’s need
to fit in and blames negative behavior on the inability to do so.

5. This model classifies misbehavior

6. Four goals of Misbehavior
1. Attention-Getting
2. Power and Control
3. Revenge
4. Feelings of Inadequacy/Helplessness

7. 1: Attention Getting
Think about misbehavior as a method of communication, a child’s way of
reaching out.
Firstly, There’s a difference between how your child behaves and their
character. What they do is not who they are. It’s important to remember
negative behavior does not make your child “bad.”
One reason children misbehave is attention. When children seek attention
through their behaviors they are feeling overlooked or insignificant. To get this
need met, they behave in ways to make sure they get noticed. They throw
their toys, hit their brother, scream or generally make life difficult.

8. Managing attention-seeking behaviors
Oftentimes when children seek attention through their misbehavior we give them
exactly what they want, but maybe not in the most constructive way. It’s easy to
quickly react to these situations by yelling or scolding a child. In doing that, we give
them the attention they desire, but we give them negative attention. While children
would prefer positive attention over negative attention, they will accept and seek
out negative attention if that is all that is offered to them. If the only time an adult
pays attention to their child is by yelling or scolding in reaction to negative
behaviors, the child is likely to repeat or escalate their actions to continue getting
that attention. If we find a way to give the child our attention in a positive,
constructive way, everyone can get what they want.