What is the goal of this behaviour?

I observed a child's behaviour the other day but I can't decide what was the goal of the behaviour? I believe Dreikurs suggests that most misbehaviour is performed with a goal of gaining something from an adult, such as power, attention, etc. The other day I observed a seven-year-old in a classroom. Three times in a period, he hit different students and then when they went to tell the teacher, he told them "remember no tattling" and they stopped. He did not know that I ohserved him and no other adult found out about it. What would you suspect is the goal of the misbehaviour? How would you deal with a child like this?

Replies:

Behavior Goals, by Dale Pietrzak, 10/9/96 Possible Goal, by Henry Stein, 10/11/96

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