A common feature of interventions for students with behavioral difficulties is an attempt by such authorities as parents and teachers to establish increased control over students' behaviors, which can lead to countercontrol. Attempts to exert even greater control over a student who is countercontrolling increase the student's opportunity to countercontrol. In this article, the authors suggest that some children who are diagnosed with chronic behavior disorders might be countercontrolling the very persons who try to control them. The authors define countercontrol, explain how it might occur, and offer guidelines for resolving the problem.
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