Frustration-Aggression-Displacement

Effective teachers can spot it just about every time it erupts, seemingly unexplained student behavior, anger filled, and misdirected. The term associated with it is "Frustration-Aggression-Displacement" (F-A-D). You know the feeling, you're at the computer, something goes wrong or a download is too slow and you're in a hurry, you slam down the computer mouse and blurt out some four letter word. Hey! What did that computer mouse ever do to you?!

This happens frequently in classrooms and goes undiagnosed and treated because teachers simply do not recognize the symptoms. The result is a chaotic environment with a contagious nature - virtually everyone is getting out of control. The way F-A-D works is simply a level of frustration that rises to the point of aggression and that aggression is displaced to the nearest most visible and vulnerable victim; either you, the teacher, or another student or students.

Just knowing what it is and what to call it is a big help in terms of addressing it. Know that is normal for anyone from time to time. Realize that many people, especially young people have not developed the coping mechanisms necessary to handle unfamiliar circumstances and that fuels frustration, leading to aggression and ultimately displaced behaviors.

Tomorrow we'll move from the "what" and "why" of F-A-D to the "how of dealing with it.

And one more thing, I have witnessed teachers exhibit F-A-D in the classroom—that doesn't have to happen to you. It's never personal when it comes to kids, it's not about you, it's about them. Above all, you're the adult and you're there to help.

Stef