RUDOLF DREIKURS :

DEMOCRATIC TEACHING
AND MANAGEMENT

KEY CONCEPTS OF
DREIKURS THEORY
Mistaken Goals
All misbehaviour results when students have one of more of the following mistaken

goals for their behaviour:

Attention getting
ii. Power seeking
iii. Revenge; and
iv. Helplessness (inadequacy)
i.

Democratic Teaching
Teacher should be democratic rather than autocratic/permissive in the classrooms

procedures and in social interaction with the students.

KEY CONCEPTS OF
DREIKURS THEORY
Encouragement
Teacher should encourage students rather than praise them.

Logical Consequences
Establishment of classrooms rules and implement logical consequences rather than

punishments for misbehaviours.

Punishment can seldom be used only when all logical consequences have been
exhausted.

Overview of Dreikurss
Model
Four aspects are being emphasised in this theory which are:

Identifying and addressing mistaken goals of misbehaviour;

II. Acting as democratic rather than autocratic or permissive teacher;
III. Using logical consequences; and
IV. Understanding of the differences between praise and encouragement.
I.

Dreikurs believed that democratic pattern in classroom could bring up

effective instruction and provide a collaborative learning.

Pedagogical Applications
Example 1 :
A student talked constantly and interrupted the class until his teacher realized
that he felt inadequate. Once she helped him to believe that he could do the work
successfully, his behaviour improved.
Example 2:
An autocratic teacher had a power-seeking problems until he learned that
democratic classroom procedures reduce the need for some students to be power
seekers.

Pedagogical Applications
Democratic pattern in classroom may provide positive classroom

environment, where everyone works together in achieving common purpose.

In a supportive classroom, there is a need for clear limit, rules and order.

Practical Applications
Modeling Dreikur's Philosophy of Democratic Teaching
1) Identify the mistaken goal
2) Confront the mistaken goal & implement logical consequences
3) Do not engage in power struggles by withdrawing as an authority figure
4) Re-direct student's mistaken goal of power as some other leadership/directive role
5) Encourage students to display inadequacy by awarding/giving praise and giving

support for minimal efforts

Identifying Mistaken Goals

All misbehaviour results when students have one of more of the following mistaken

goals for their behaviour:

Attention getting
ii. Power seeking
iii. Revenge; and
iv. Helplessness (inadequacy)
i.

I, Attention Seeking
When students feel they are worthless, they often misbehave to get the

attention they want.

Students will try to obtain attention using any methods that work.
In fact, students even might prefer punishment to being ignored.

ii, Power Seeking

Students attempt to prove their power by being the leader of the groups and

doing whatever they want.

The self-worth feeling will arouse after they are able to boss a situation or

control others.

At times, the behaviour becomes more defiant and might include

disobedience, talking back or overt resistance.

iii, Revenge
They want to hurt someone else and think that revenge is important for their

own self-esteem.

They will become vicious and outwardly hostile with time.

iv, Feelings of Inadequacy

These students often feel helpless and inferior.
They often want to be left alone and try to avoid others.
As long as they are left alone, nothing is demanded on them, and their

deficiencies, inabilities and inadequacies might not become obvious.

Using Logical Consequences

This is referring to the consequences that have a clear and logical connection

to the misbehaviour and have been discussed and agreed upon with the
student prior to being implemented.
Example 1:

Students who disrupt others in the classroom will be isolated from the group
until the students choose to appropriately participate.

Using Encouragement
Teachers should use more encouragement as compared to praise to boost up

students confidence level and self-esteem.

Praise should be used less often to avoid students of being too dependent on

the praise.

Strengths
This theory helps to prevent misbehaviours through democratic teaching and

logical consequences.

Democratic teaching provides win-win situation for both teacher and

students.

Effective in managing classroom.

Weakness
Sometimes, the teacher trying too hard to be democratic teacher that pushes

him to become permissive.

Students can be out of control.

Students are unpredictable. They might be active and proactive at the same

time.

Summary
Teachers role in developing effective democratic classroom, teacher has to

know more than the subject matter.

Hence, teacher must develop sound instructional strategies and build a sense

of community within the classroom.