The Dunning-Kruger Effect: The Outcome of Bad Behavior Management Training

Good behavior management training is important in education because it allows educators to create a positive classroom environment, improve student learning, reduce stress, and build positive relationships with students. But when it comes to behavior management that requires physical intervention, it is essential to be able to safely immobilize students in situations where their behavior poses a threat to themselves or others. Physical restraint should always be a last resort, and other de-escalation techniques should be attempted first. However, in some cases, physical restraint may be necessary to prevent harm and ensure the safety of everyone involved. There are a number of people who are going to "training," receive a certificate of completion and proudly believe they are prepared to prevent, de-escalate, or physically immobilize a student if necessary. But the fact is, if the training wasn't fluency based, they are very likely over-confident, but under-competent. A phenomenon known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is not uncommon, but it can be particularly harmful when it comes to physical crisis management because a person who has been poorly trained may take on crisis management tasks that they are not qualified to perform, which can lead to poor decision-making, mistakes, accidents, and injury. For example, a person who overestimates their ability to handle a self-injurious student may engage in the wrong procedure at the wrong time, which can increase the risk to both the student and the practitioner. Similarly, a person who is overconfident in their ability to manage behavior and de-escalate a fight may make decisions that put themselves and others in harm's way as they inadvertently escalate it.

The Dunning-Kruger effect that results from poor behavior and crisis management training can also lead to a lack of preparedness and planning. People who are overconfident in their abilities may not take the necessary precautions or follow the appropriate procedures, which can exacerbate potential negative outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the potential for the Dunning-Kruger effect that can occur from poor crisis management training. One of the easiest ways to know you may be a victim of the Dunning-Kruger effect is to evaluate the training you received. If you were only required to engage in 2-5 reps of any procedure, that is a good sign that you may be underprepared to accurately engage in established procedures, take necessary precautions, and work collaboratively with others to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.

At the Professional Crisis Management Association, we are proud of the fact that our training solutions build fluency. This is important because fluency can counter the Dunning-Kruger effect as it builds both high competence and high confidence. If you'd like to find out more about fluency training, check out the video below. And be sure to reach out to Drew Carter at [email protected] if you'd like to become trained in Professional Crisis Management, the only fluency-based crisis management training in the world!

About the Author

Specializing in human performance, coaching, and organizational leadership, Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni is a behavior scientist and educator who has worked across education and human services for almost three decades. In this capacity, he has served the needs of children and adults through various positions, including COO, Vice President, Director of School Improvement, Leadership Director, Professor, Assistant Principal, School Turnaround Manager, Clinical Coordinator, Therapist, District Behavior Analyst, and Director of Progam Development and Public Relations at?PCMA. Dr. Gavoni is passionate about applying Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), or the science of human behavior, to make a positive difference in establishing safe, productive, and engaging environments that bring out the best in faculty and staff so they can bring out the best in the learners they serve. He is an active board member of the?Opioid Awareness Foundation?and?World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance.

Known for his authenticity and practical approaches, Dr. Gavoni is the host of the Top 1.5% globally ranked?Crisis in Education Podcast?and a sought-out speaker at various Educational and Behavior Analytic Conferences Internationally. He a the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling co-author of The Scientific Laws of Life & Leadership: Behavioral Karma; Quick Wins! Accelerating School Transformation through Science, Engagement, and Leadership; Deliberate Coaching: A Toolbox for Accelerating Teacher Performance; and MMA Science: A Training, Coaching, and Belt Ranking Guide. Dr. Gavoni is proud to introduce OBM and Applied Behavior Analysis to worldwide audiences through his numerous publications and his work with PCMA to create productive, safe, and positive cultures.

Beyond his work in education and human services, Dr. Gavoni is also a former Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion and a highly respected striking coach in combat sports. Coach “Paulie Gloves,” as he is known in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community, has trained world champions and UFC vets using technologies rooted in the behavioral sciences. Coach Paulie has been featured in the books?Beast: Blood, Struggle, and Dreams a the Heart of Mixed Martial Arts, A Fighter’s Way, and the featured article Ring to Cage:?How four former boxers help mold MMA’s finest. He is also an author who has written extensively for various online magazines such as Scifighting, Last Word on Sports, and Bloody Elbow, where his?Fight Science series?continues to bring behavioral science to MMA. Finally, Paulie was also a featured fighter in FX’s highest-rated show at the time, The Toughman, and as an MMA coach in the Lifetime reality series?Leave it to Geege.