Pedagogical workers often work with groups of children and adolescents in different forms. A group represents an environment in which adolescents test boundaries of behaviors allowed by adults, form their place in the group, shape their role concerning peers, etc. Some forms of behavior exhibited by adolescents can be considered disruptive by those who lead the groups.
In my master’s thesis, I explore manifestations of disruptive behavior in groups of adolescents where they work with the method of workshops (program Mladinske delavnice). I try to highlight the responses of workshop leaders or leaders of small groups. Groups, where the workshops take place, offer a place in which adolescents can explore their own beliefs, value systems, and thoughts and compare them with their peers. Even with this method of work with adolescents, behavior that can be seen as disruptive can occur.
In the theoretical part of my thesis, I describe different understandings of disruptive behavior, its characteristics, and possible factors which contribute to the emergence of disruptive behavior. I briefly describe pedagogical workers’ responses to disruptive behavior. Additionally, I describe some of the possible group approaches to deal with disruptive behavior. I also describe a preventive program called Mladinske delavnice and workshop as a method of working with adolescents.
With the qualitative approach to the research, I explore the forms of behaviors that group leaders find disruptive, types of disruptive behaviors that are encountered most often, and what attributions on disruptive behavior group leaders make. Besides, I examine group leaders’ responses on disruptive behavior and whether these responses are effective. The data were obtained with two focus groups where group leaders who are also members of the NGO participated.
The research showed that during workshops, group leaders most often encounter the following types of disruptive behavior: chatting, weak adolescents’ attention during the discussion, and verbal violence between peers. Group leaders attribute causes for disturbing behavior to individuals that behave disruptively and their upbringing. Group leaders’ most common responses are warnings, use of elevated voice, and threats. Besides, group leaders admit that they ignore some disruptive behavior. Their responses towards disruptive behavior are inefficient, according to group leaders.
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