All behavior serves a purpose: to get something or avoid something. We behave in certain ways for a reason, whether we realize it or not. To help you understand why we do the things we do, here’s an outline of the 4 functions of behaviors.
Understanding these functions allows us to respond in ways that are more helpful. Figuring out why a behavior is happening, instead of just noting what is happening, helps us to find the best interventions and support.
We’ll go over the main functions of behavior: escape/avoidance, attention-seeking, access to tangibles, and automatic/sensory reinforcement. We’ll also give you some ideas about how to figure out why a behavior is happening and what to do with that information.