Social Judgement
| Physical | Communication | Cognitive | Behavioural / Emotional |
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Acquired brain injury may affect social judgement as a result of disinhibition or an inability to be able to read social clues. Disinhibition is a lack of restraint which is shown as disregard for social conventions, impulsivity, and poor risk assessment.
Disinhibited behaviour occurs when people no longer follow the social rules about what or where to say or do something. They may present as rude, tactless or even offensive. A person with a brain injury may make a comment without realising its impact on others or make a joke that is inappropriate in the context.
A person with a brain injury may enter another person’s ‘personal space’ without being aware that it is uncomfortable for them. They may not understand the ‘rules of conversation’ and talk without letting the other person speak, over-talk another person, or have difficulty staying ‘on topic’ which can be frustrating for others.
People with impaired social judgement may have other more problematic behaviours, such as verbal or physical aggression, socially inappropriate behaviour, sexual disinhibition, wandering, and repetitive behaviour.
With support and rehabilitation, social problems do improve for people with acquired brain injury but it is necessary for them to understand that there is an issue and be prepared to work on it.
