Dysfunctional work behaviors

Job productivity suffers because of the impact poor personal financial behaviors have on family fife (Garman, Leech, and Grable, 1996). For example, poor personal financial decisions may lead to loss of transportation, loss of the ability to obtain credit and adequate housing, arguments with relatives, emotional stress, spouse/child abuse, and divorce. These decisions manifest in dysfunctional work behaviors such as absenteeism, tardiness, and reduced job productivity. Table 19-1 summarizes the potential costs associated with poor employee financial behaviors. 

Psychological disorders related to working conditions include sleep disturbances, mood disturbances, reduced motivation to work or recreate, somatic and psychosomatic compleiints, neuroses, psychoses, and dysfunctional coping behavior. The effects of stress on an individual are influenced by the nature of the exposures and the individual s physical and psychological characteristics and coping behaviors that may accentuate or mitigate the exposure. 

Another method to assess skills is to observe how the client works with others in group sessions, how the client interacts with others during nontherapy situations at your center, or even to observe client interaction with you in and out of session. Observation of this social behavior provides insight into how the client may interact with others outside treatment, and whether that style of interaction is appropriate. Finally, role-playing in session gives you an opportunity to observe the client in action. For example, you may want a client to role-play with you in session how he or she will deal with specific relationship problems in order to observe how the client might interact outside of session. This provides an opportunity to correct inappropriate or dysfunctional behavior in a safe situation, as well as practice new skills. In addition, you get to observe the client under some pressure if the role-play is done realistically, and that will provide you a great deal of information that can help you help your client. 

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