Students exhibiting angry and hostile behavior towards teachers are likely displaying which type of behavior disorder?

Students who exhibit angry and hostile behavior towards teachers typically display externalizing behavior disorders. This type of disorder is characterized by outwardly directed behaviors, such as aggression, defiance, and hyperactivity. These behaviors are often noticeable and disruptive in a classroom setting, making them more visible compared to internalizing disorders, where a student might instead show signs of anxiety or depression that remain more private.

Externalizing behaviors can manifest in various forms, such as verbal outbursts, physical aggression, and noncompliance with adult requests. Such actions often indicate underlying issues, including difficulties in social interactions, emotional regulation, or conflicts with authority figures.

In contrast, internalizing behavior disorders would involve behaviors directed inward, such as withdrawal, sadness, or anxiety. Learning disabilities relate specifically to challenges in acquiring and using academic skills and are not characterized by aggression or hostility. Hyperactivity does encompass some externalizing behaviors but is more focused on excessive movement and impulsivity rather than overt aggression towards others. Thus, identifying angry and hostile behaviors in students aligns closely with the characteristics of externalizing behavior disorders.