What does the 'Pattern' component of the Coping Model focus on?

• A. Look for recurring behaviors, triggers, and staff responses.
• B. Document the incident without analyzing trends.
• C. Analyze only the most recent behavior.
• D. Identify only environmental triggers.

Answer: (C)

Pattern is about identifying recurring sequences across incidents. It looks for behaviors that tend to reappear, the triggers that reliably precede them, and how staff responses have influenced outcomes. By recognizing these repeating patterns, you can anticipate escalation and plan proactive strategies rather than just reacting to the latest event. If you focus only on the most recent behavior, you miss the broader trend and the triggers that tend to recur, and you lose sight of how responses have shaped outcomes. Similarly, documenting without analyzing trends or focusing only on environmental triggers fails to capture the full interplay of factors that contribute to escalation. Understanding Pattern helps you move from a single incident mindset to predicting and preventing future ones.