Perseverating is sometimes misunderstood as bad behavior or defiance.
Behavior
Perseverating
Perseverating is sometimes misunderstood as bad behavior or defiance.
However, getting “stuck” on a thought, action, question, activity, or feeling is not deliberate or poor behavior. In children and adults alike, perseverating cannot be helped and is often seen in injury. Even those undergoing extreme stress that they cannot manage may display signs of perseverance.
Education resources
Perseverations and obsessions
It is worth noting that perseverance can be confused with obsessions. Obsessions are also fixations in people with OCD but are much more intense than perseverations. It is possible that those with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergence may have OCD and could display both perseverations and obsessions.
Is perseverating a behavioral issue?
There is a tendency to view those who are perseverating as behaving poorly or simply being stubborn and “wanting their way”. This is not the case. It can be difficult to fully understand this difference, especially when it comes to those who are displaying perseverating in an emotional capacity – such as being unable to stop feeling anger, fear, or sadness, as is common with ADHD perseveration. Whatever the root cause of perseveration, it is not an active choice a person makes and can be as distressing for them as for those around them. As such, those who are perseverating mustn’t be punished as though they are displaying defiance or a bad attitude.
Signs of perseveration
There are many different signs of perseveration that you may notice, depending on the person. Children and adults may both display these symptoms. You may notice the person:
- Repeats a phrase or sentence over and over
- Consistently echoes something they have heard (stuck can be difficult to handle with a child in the classroom or as an adult). Gaining a full understanding of what perseveration is and its causes can help you both ask for and provide the best support.
