Demanding Behavior

Demanding students can be difficult to interact with because they can be intrusive and persistent; these students may demand a lot of time and attention. Demanding traits are sometimes associated with anxiety, agitated depression, and/or personality disorders, but also occur in the general population.

Characteristics of demanding students include a sense of entitlement; an inability to empathize; a need to control; difficulty dealing with ambiguity; a strong drive for perfection; difficulty respecting structure, limits, and rules; persistence after hearing “no”; dependence on others to take care of them; and a fear of dealing with the realities of life.

If a student is demanding:

When possible, talk to the student in a place where you feel safe and comfortable.
Remain calm and in control of the situation.
Set clear boundaries and enforce them.
Directly and clearly explain which behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable.
Be clear about the time you will give the student.
Request that he or she treat you with respect.
Contain disruptive behavior that disturbs the class, study group, etc.
Be aware of manipulative behavior.
Refer the student to resources that can address his or her needs.
Contact the Office of Academic and Community Conduct, 906-487-2212, for assistance if you feel harassed or intimidated and/or the student’s behavior is disruptive.
Contact Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX, 906-487-3310, for assistance if you feel harassed by the student and the harassment has a sexual or gender-related aspect to it.

Don't

Argue with the student.
Accommodate inappropriate requests.
Ignore the problem and the impact that it has on you and other students, staff, or faculty.
Adjust your schedule to accommodate the student.
Feel obligated to take care of the student.
Feel guilty about not doing more.
Allow the student to intimidate you.