Causes of ODD

As young children, oppositional defiant disorder is more common in boys than girls, and the disorder typically begins by age 8. (The rate is about the same as they grow.) Although the specific "causes" of the disorder are unknown, parents who are overly concerned with power and control may cause an eruption to occur. Symptoms generally appear at home, but over time may appear in other settings as well. Usually the disorder occurs gradually over months or years.

This disorder appears to be more common in families where at least one parent has a history of a mood disorder, conduct disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or a substance-related disorder. Further, some studies suggest that mothers with a depressive disorder are more likely to have children with oppositional behavior. However, it remains unclear to what extent the mother's depression results from or causes oppositional behavior in children.

Specifically, the following have been stated as "CAUSES" OF DEFIANT AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN

1 Failure to reward good behavior Children have little reason to display good behavior if they know their parents will not respond to it. Children would rather get negative attention then no attention, so it is critical to reward (reinforce) god behavior.

2 Failure to punish bad behavior appropriately.

3 Excessive use of punishment whoever dishes out the most punishment in the family usually receives the most punishment from the child in return.

4 Failure to follow a plan consistently if rules are not enforced consistently in the home, the child learns that he can sometimes get away with things.

5 Child temperament Plays a role in how child behaviors and responds to rules.

6 Stress on the child Common stressors for children include chronic exposure to yelling, long hours out of the home (at school or daycare) , conflict with siblings, not having enough fun time with their parents, too many extra-curricular activities, being hungry or tired.

7 Stress on parents When parents are stressed, they are less likely to follow a chosen child management plan.

8 Childs irrational attitudes and poor problem-solving skills Almost all ODD kids display irrational and self-defeating attitudes and poor problem-solving skills which show up in the form of low frustration tolerance, demanding attitudes, aggressive behaviors, temper outbursts, impulsivity, poor verbal skills, and stubbornness.

9 Rewarding inappropriate behavior Ex. Stop talking and paying attention to a child who is interrupting a conversation with another adult.

10 Nagging, threatening, screaming/spanking syndrome Need to train your child to respond to your first command within 10-15 seconds to avoid this conflict.