据Challenging behaviour - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Challenging behaviour is defined as "culturally abnormal behaviour(s) of such intensity, frequency or duration that the physical safety of the person or others is placed in serious jeopardy, or behaviour which is likely to seriously limit or deny access to the use of ordinary community facilities".

Challenging behaviour is most often exhibited by people with developmental disabilities, dementia, psychosis and by children, although such behaviours can be displayed by any person.”

Common types of challenging behaviour include self-injurious behaviour (such as hitting, headbutting, biting), aggressive behaviour (such as hitting others, screaming, spitting, kicking), inappropriate sexualised behaviour (such as public masturbation or groping), behaviour directed at property (such as throwing objects and stealing) and stereotyped behaviours (such as repetitive rocking or echolalia).

在翻译之前，先说英语中有一种叫委婉语（euphemism）的现象，即在交际活动中，用迂回婉转的表达方式来指称语言禁忌或讳言事物/事件/现象。在经常举的例子中，如用残疾人（the handicapped or disabled）来统称瘸（crippled）、瞎（blind）、聋（deaf)、哑（dumb) 等生理有缺陷者。虞左俊教授说，目前用更委婉的说法——身体有因难/不便的人（physically challenged people）来指代残疾人。其它如用低收入阶层（low-income group）来指穷人（poor people）等，都属此类。显然，根据上述定义，“challenging behaviour”应该是一种委婉语。

“challenging”词典译义是“挑战性的”，但不一定在任何情况下都如此译。在具体情况下，可根据语境译为“困难的、艰难的、费力的、棘手的、难解决的、难战胜的”等。在“challenging behaviour”中，译为“障碍行为”也未尝不可。