Emotional Disturbance (ED) is not generally based on what type of behavior?

Emotional Disturbance (ED) is characterized by significant difficulties that impact a student's educational performance, socialization, and overall psychological functioning. The definition typically emphasizes behavior that is ongoing and significantly deviates from what is expected for a particular age group.

Chronic, willful behaviors are indicative of more serious issues that require a deeper assessment and are not typically categorized as emotional disturbances on their own. ED is more concerned with pervasive emotional issues and not just with sustained, deliberate misbehavior. Instead, behaviors considered normal for a student's developmental stage would be seen as age-appropriate, and impulsive actions could arise incidentally due to various factors including emotional regulation challenges.

In contrast, occasional misbehavior may not meet the criteria necessary for identifying ED since it does not suggest a pervasive pattern but may rather fit within the range of typical childhood behavior. Thus, emotional disturbance is not based on willful chronic behaviors, making that the correct understanding in this context.