12 Chapter 1 been making progress in the past weeks. Eric feels at a loss for what to do with Kevin, wishing he understood Kevin’s motivations for such decisions better. The incident raises questions about how to support Kevin effectively and ensure progress in the future. In the above-mentioned (fictitious, yet realistic) scenario, three things stand out that are relevant to this dissertation. First, (problem) behaviors are not static entities, but patterns that can change over time. During the weekly meeting, the caretakers reflected on how clients were doing before, how they are doing now, and what might happen in the future. Second, the example of Kevin shows that preventing undesirable behavioral change is a difficult challenge for both clients and staff. A comprehensive understanding of why problems occur is likely necessary to help Kevin achieve desirable behavioral change. Third, one can draw conclusions about behavioral problems and preventive strategies at either the group level or for specific individuals. Those conclusions may differ substantially. As the staff meeting showed: there were concerns about Kevin's progress (the individual), while the general opinion about the group was positive. The chapters in this dissertation are dedicated to studying how and why problematic behaviors of young people with a mild intellectual disability change over time, both at the group level and the individual level. Before I further elaborate on how and why behaviors may possibly change over time, it is necessary to further introduce who this dissertation is about. I will first do so at the individual-level, by introducing the three other (again fictitious but realistic) vignettes of young people who, like Kevin, had a rough start in life or otherwise endured hardships early on. All of them receive care because they show behaviors that are deemed problematic, in a manner that is considerate of their (dis)abilities. After this person-specific introduction, I will provide a more general group-level description of people with a mild intellectual disability and the challenges they may face.
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