How is emotionally Disturbed different from socially maladjusted?

Question

How is emotionally Disturbed different from socially maladjusted?

Answer 1

Embroidery Fan pretty much nailed it.   There is some misinformation though (not in her answer), as kids with emotional disturbances CAN overcome their challenges with much therapy, support and encouragement and direct instruction on appropriate responses, behaviors, etc.  It can be brought on by their surroundings, abuse, though those circumstances usually excaberate their condition, not cause it.  

Socially maladjusted is more like oppositional defiant and conduct disorder.  They choose "ED" type behaviors to suit their own needs of the moment.  They can turn it on or off in order to get the desired results. These kids aren't in the chronic distress  that "ED" kids are in.  

Kids with these types of issues shouldn't be in a class with ED kids. Lions with the lambs so to speak.  Great link below spelling out the difference.

Answer 2

I think emotional disturbed is have moments where you can't control your emotions and just burst out with anger and or hate, but sometimes be controlled with medication and counseling.  To be socially misadusted is not to be able to live in normal society at any time, usually something traumatic happened to them that they can't live in society and have to be locked up permanently for your and their security.

Answer 3

The way I understand it is that ED kids are hard wired to be ED and socially maladjusted is something they can overcome. They are not hard wired to be that way unless they have another condition like autism or are a sociopath.

Answer 4

According to the federal Special Ed. guidelines, students with ED must have one of five specific problems, to a marked degree & over a long period of time, interfering with their educations.  The problems are things like:

*an inability to learn, not due to health problems

*an inability to start or maintain relationships with children and/or adults

*high levels of depression or anxiety

*school phobia

*schizophrenia diagnosis

*physical illnesses brought on by school attendance.

This is opposed to socially maladjusted students, who have problems such as:

*knowing the rules but choosing to break them

*preferring peer-chosen behaviors to adult-chosen behaviors

*breaking the law

Answer 5

The basic idea is nature vs. nurture.  An emotionally disturbed student would have a chemical/ neurological of a known or unknown origin.  Someone with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety would fall into this category.  Socially maladjusted would be more of the student who grows up in a bad neighborhood and "embraces" it fully.  A gang member (yes, go to any city and you will find middle and high school kids involved in gangs), for instance, may qualify by school checklists for an emotional issues.  However, it is by choice or habit, not by a chemical or neurological issue.  It's really a difficult and delicate issue sometimes.  If you see a child "turn on" and "turn off" the behavior when something desirable is available to them, it's a good indicator of what the issue is.