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Why does a certain behavior happen? Why is my kid doing this?
In ABA, we look at three possible functions of behavior. These are the reasons behaviors occur: access/attention, escape/avoidance, and automatic reinforcement. Some people may refer to access as “tangible” and some may refer to automatic reinforcement as “sensory.”
1. Access/Attention
This is a behavior in order to get something: an item, activity, or attention.
Example 1: a child wants to buy a new toy, but his mother says, “Not today.” This causes the toddler to throw a tantrum over the toy. (function: access to the new toy).
Example 2: Dad is working on the computer while Mia plays quietly. Mia walks over to Dad and dumps out his coffee. Dad stops his computer work to scold Mia and engages in tickles after scolding. (function: attention from Dad).
Example 3: Lena requests that her brother get a puzzle from a shelf she can’t reach. (function: access to puzzle).
2. Escape/Avoidance
This is a behavior in order to “get out” of something undesirable: the person behaves in a certain way in order to escape or to avoid an aversive task or activity before it has begun.
Example 1: Dad tells his daughter, “It’s time to start doing homework” and the daughter says, “I’m playing dad, then I’ll do it.” She finishes her play before homework (function: avoiding homework).
Example 2: Tyler’s grandma tells him it is time to brush his teeth. Tyler engages in a tantrum. Grandma sighs and says “Forget it, we’ll do it tomorrow.” (function: escape from brushing teeth)
3. Automatic Reinforcement
This is a behavior that is internally reinforcing and not driven by outside reinforcement. Most self-stimulating behaviors fall into this category.
Example 1: Libby has a mosquito bite. She scratches the bite because it feels good to itch it. (function: automatic reinforcement)
Example 2: Roberto uses his fingers to measure square items in his home. He does this whether others are present and regardless if a task is presented to him. (function: automatic reinforcement)
Example 3: Saroj tastes her food. She decides it needs something and adds some salt. (function: automatic reinforcement).
Okay that is cool and all…but why do we care what the function is?
As caretakers, we want to know why (the function!) the behavior occurs so we can implement an appropriate consequence. This may include changing our responses as caregivers, teaching appropriate ways to get the same need (function!) met, or teaching coping skills for when meeting the request isn’t possible (You want Disneyland tonight? Me too, but that isn’t a current option!)
How do I figure out the function?
Your BCBA and care team will ask you to take “ABC” data. ABC data is short for Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence data and outlines exactly what the behavior looks like, including what happened before and directly after. This allows the data to be analyzed to look for patterns that are clues to the function. For a more detailed breakdown of ABC data, see our ABC blog post!