Diagnosens kraft : En vetenskaplig essä om normalitet och avvikelse i förskolan

Sammanfattning: The aim of this scientific essay is to illuminate perceptions and interpretations about children's deviant behavior and how it affects the educators attitudes towards these children. The starting point for the essay is two different self-perceived situations where I experienced that "deviant" behavior and behaviors that causes trouble, referred to as “trouble-making” behaviors, quickly and carelessly identifies as consequences of the neuropsychiatric disability ADHD. The “diagnosis-label” creates a feeling of uncertainty for me because I know from experience that it provides more support and understanding of children's behaviors. At the same time, the instant association to ADHD leads to disregarding of other factors that generate "trouble-making" behaviors. The "problems" are not always connected to a disability, but a diagnosis of a disability provides, in reality, faster, more structured and well-designed support for the child compared to a child who shows "trouble-making" behaviors without a diagnosis. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate other circumstances that can create "trouble-making" behaviors and question function of the diagnosis as a creator of greater understanding of these behaviors. I would like to highlight different perspectives of behaviors that are perceived as deviating and negative, to create opportunities for educators to provide children support without the need of a disability to explain the reason why the child needs support. Greater knowledge of children's "trouble-making" behaviors can lead to more personalized support actions for the child, and to an understanding of how interpretations and prejudices influence children's ability to develop advantageous strategies for managing individual difficulties. The survey is based on the questions: What is “abnormal behavior” in preschool children? Can there be other causes of "trouble-making" behaviors than consequences of a neuropsychiatric disfunction? What significance does a formal diagnosis have for preschool children?