Topic Tuesday: Functions of Behavior

Last Tuesday you read about ABC data. We use ABC data to help us figure out why the behavior is occurring (the function).

There are 4 main Functions of behavior:

1. Sensory Automatic – Provides some sort of sensory experience. Occurs without the involvement of another person. 
2. Escape/Avoidance – To scape or avoid a non-preferred task
3. Attention – To obtain attention from others
4. Tangible – To obtain a preferred item, object or activity.

Once we have a hypothesis of what the function of the behavior is, we can come up with a plan for treatment.