Demanding Behavior
Demanding students can be difficult to interact with because they can be intrusive
and persistent. Demanding traits can be associated with anxiety, agitated depression
and/or personality disorders, but also occur in the general population. Some features
associated with demanding students are a sense of entitlement; an inability to empathize;
a need to control; difficulty dealing with ambiguity; a strong drive for perfection;
difficulty respecting structure, limits, and rules; persistence after hearing “no”;
dependence on others to take care of them; and a fear of dealing with the realities
of life. These students may demand a lot of time and attention. When dealing with
a demanding student:
DO
- When possible, talk to the student in a place where you feel safe and comfortable.
- Remain calm and in control of the situation.
- Set clear limits and hold to
them.
- Directly and clearly explain to the student the behaviors which are acceptable
and unacceptable.
- Be clear about the time you will give the student.
- Request
that he or she treat you with respect.
- Contain disruptive behavior that disturbs
the class, study group, etc.
- Be aware of manipulative behavior.
- Refer the
student to resources that can address his/her needs.
- Contact the Office of Judicial
Affairs (893-4569) for assistance if you are feeling harassed and intimidated and/or
the student’s behavior is disruptive.
- Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity
and Sexual Harassment/Title IX Compliance, 3217 Phelps Hall, (893-2701) for assistance
if you are feeling harassed by the student and the harassment has a sexual or gender-related
aspect to it.
DON’T
- Argue with the student.
- Accommodate inappropriate requests.
- Ignore the
problem and the impact that it has on you and other students, staff or faculty.
- Adjust your schedule to accommodate the student.
- Feel obligated to take care
of him/her.
- Feel guilty about not doing more.
- Allow the student to intimidate
you.
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