Types of Temper Tantrums
There are 2 types of tantrums:
- manipulative (child is trying to get his own way – conscious, planned, controlled)
- temperamental (child can’t help it – he is truly “out of control”)
Both types can look the same and one form can lead into another. A temperamental tantrum acquires a manipulative quality when the child comes to understand the value of what he’s is doing.
Guidelines to Help Distinguish the Two Types
- the manipulative tantrum is typically less intense
- the manipulative tantrum is clearly the result of the child not getting something he wants
- the motive is obvious for manipulative tantrums – you don’t need to look very hard to find it
- the temperament tantrum relates to an underlying temperamental issue
- you typically feel sorry for a child having a temperamental tantrum because “he can’t help it”
- a manipulative tantrum feels like he’s trying to get his own way
Next post – handling a “manipulative” tantrum.