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RECOGNIZE
RECOGNIZE
Recognizing Concerning Behavior
Individuals exhibiting signs of distress often interact with various members of our campus community. Being attentive to behavioral changes—such as frequent absences, missed deadlines, or noticeable declines in personal hygiene—can be crucial indicators of underlying challenges. Recognizing these signs and sharing concerns with our care and support teams enables timely interventions, fostering a supportive environment where they can access the resources they need.
Concerning Behavior Matrix
The Concerning Behavior Matrix is a structured tool designed to assist the Texas A&M community in recognizing and categorizing behaviors that may indicate an individual is in distress or poses a potential threat. This matrix serves as a guide for faculty, staff, and students to identify concerning behaviors early and respond appropriately, ensuring timely support and intervention.
Disruptive |
Distress |
Threatening |
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Classroom/Workplace Signals |
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Psychological Signals |
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Physical Signals |
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Concerning Behavior Matrix
The Concerning Behavior Matrix is a structured tool designed to assist the Texas A&M community in recognizing and categorizing behaviors that may indicate an individual is in distress or poses a potential threat. This matrix serves as a guide for faculty, staff, and students to identify concerning behaviors early and respond appropriately, ensuring timely support and intervention.
Disruptive
- Constant interruptions
- Talking on the phone during class or meetings.
- Excessive noise
- Unproductive arguing or debate
- Untimely laughing, crying, or talking
- Use of profanity or pejorative language
- Harassment
- Failure to respect others’ rights to express their viewpoints
Distress
- Missed classes, meetings, and assignments
- Sudden performance decline
- Disturbing content in writing assignments, projects, or discussions
- Lack of response to communications or requests
- Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or using a laptop for non-work-related activities)
Threatening
- Safety concerns from others
- Aggressive behavior towards others
- Intentional damage or abuse
- Sharing inappropriate content online
- Serious threats of violence
- True threat statements (e.g., “I am buying a gun and shooting all my enemies.”)
Disruptive
- Failure to cooperate or follow rules
- Rapid, confusing, or grandiose speech
- Impulsive talking without consideration
- Prolonged nonverbal behaviors (e.g., glaring or staring)
- Refusal to speak or respond to questions
- Entitled or disrespectful communication with peers
Distress
- Mood changes
- Disclosing distressing life situations
- Concerns raised by others
- Irritability or frustration
- Blaming others for mistakes
- Social isolation
- Frequent lateness or early departure
- Lack of participation or drowsiness affecting teaching or the workplace
Threatening
- Statements about suicide
- Disturbing comments in person, via email, or telephone
- Conversations with direct or implied threats about safety
- Objectifying language that depersonalizes others
- Conversations designed to upset others, including descriptions of weapons, killing, or death
Disruptive
- Aggressiveness
- Bizarre or strange behavior
- Signs of intoxication or substance use
- Bullying
- Becoming belligerent when confronted
- Offensive comments (racist, demeaning, lewd)
Distress
- Sudden change in physical appearance or personal hygiene
- Disproportionate or unusual responses to events or discussions
- Excessive fearfulness, panic, or anxiety
- Comments about inability to sleep or eat
- Signs of injury (cuts or bruising)
Threatening
- Self-injurious behavior
- Unexplained aggressive behavior or disruptive outbursts
- Verbal or written statements to whether direct or implied about suicide, homicide, sexual assault, self-harm, or domestic violence
- Unprovoked anger, hostility, threats toward others or self
- Stalking or harassing behavior
Early Intervention
Early intervention with concerning behavior can lead to individuals receiving much needed help and assistance. Distressed individuals need a safe place to express themselves and their distress may be preventing them from understanding resources available. Responding and Referring builds a bridge between the person in need of support and those who can help. For more information about escalating behavior review the Behavioral Approach to Violence Prevention.
Targeted Violence
One of the care and support resource teams known as the Special Situations Team specifically assesses threat and targeted violence. Targeted violence is goal-driven, rooted in grievances, and preceded by concerning behaviors like threats, planning, or aggression. Often observed by others, these signs may indicate stressors such as mental health struggles, financial strain, or conflicts. Recognizing and reporting such behaviors enables timely interventions, helping prevent violence and addressing underlying issues.