Teenagers trying to threaten parents with fake suicide attempt end up killing themselves Doctors say that children have the tendency to use blackmail to get their work done Not eating, not speaking, throwing things at people are symptoms of maladaptive behaviour
This incident, a tragic outcome of a teenager's aggressive bid to blackmail her parents could occur in any household. Bengaluru city doctors say that children have the tendency to use blackmail to get their work done, and the trend is only increasing across the city.
Experts from NIMHANS dub this attitude among children and teenagers as 'maladaptive behaviour'.
Not eating, not speaking, throwing things at people and displaying excessive aggression are all symptoms from an early age of this behaviour.
"If parents neglect this behaviour and succumb to the child's demands, they will develop this behaviour into a habit. This habit will have consequences in society later in life," said John Vijayasagar, Additional Professor, Department of Child Psychology, NIMHANS.
Interestingly, both extremes cause similar side effects. If either parents are very restrictive or exceptionally permissive, the child's behaviour will be impacted badly. In some cases parents will never ask and simply give anything that the child demands. This attitude of the parents is very dangerous as the child will become very impulsive if he/she does not get things desired by it on time.
During the developmental stage, from 11 years onwards, the child will start questioning parents' decisions in case they are too restrictive. The child should be brought up with a reward and punishment method.
"Reward and cheer the child for good behaviour and punish and educate if he or she goes wrong or is very adamant," said Dr Chandrashekhar, Department of Psychiatry, Victoria Hospital.
The doctors feel that only 15-20% of child or teenagers come to hospitals for counselling. Over 70 percent of cases go unnoticed and untreated.
"At NIMHANS alone every day at least 4 cases of teenage persons are admitted for maladaptive behaviour and other mental issues," said Dr Vijayasagar.
