No Fighting, No Biting, No Screaming

Bo Hejlskov Elvén is a Clinical Psychologist based in Sweden. He is an independent consultant and lecturer on autism and challenging behaviour, and an accredited Studio III trainer. In 2009, he was awarded the Puzzle Piece of the Year prize by the Swedish Autism Society for his lecturing and counselling on challenging behaviour.

Fighting, biting, screaming and behaviours that challenge the people dealing with them are often triggered by unsuitable surroundings or unrealistic demands. In this new approach, Bo Hejlskov Elvén shows how identifying and adapting these problem areas can dramatically improve behaviour in people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Introduction. 1. Challenging Behaviours: Definitions and Theories. What is challenging behaviour? Dangerous behaviour? Or just difficut? Throwing the blame on somebody else. History: Theories and therapies. A new outlook. Background to our conceptions. Summary. 2. Conceptions and Misconceptions. The importance of self-control. Methods for changing behaviour. Consequence and structure. Conceptions of the causes of behaviour. Summary. 3. Adjustment of Demands. Methods of adjusting demands. Ability to respond to demands. Summary. 4. Stress Factors: A Model for Explaining Chaos. The effects of stress. Basic stress factors. Situational stress factors. Warning signs. Signs of chaos. Protective or calming factors. Summary. 5. When Conflict Happens: Keeping it Calm. Theories of affect and emotion contagion. The low-arousal approach. Creating diversions. Confrontation or intervention? Conflict -seeking service-users. Summary. 6. Looking to the Future. Fundamental principles. Leaving the past behind. References. Index.