Every action we take has a purpose. Understanding the consequences that maintain behaviors, especially for children or individuals with special needs, can help caregivers, educators, and therapists develop more effective strategies to support behaviors that benefit everyone.
Behavior analysts know that behaviors are maintained by four main consequences (or a combination): socially-mediated access (to things like attention or toys), socially-mediated escape (from demands), non-socially mediated access (things that just feel good!), and non-socially mediated escape (from noisy environments, discomfort, etc.) In this article, you will explore these behavioral functions and their common characteristics.
What is Behavior?
Behavior is simply anything an organism does. It is the response generated by various stimuli or inputs, which can include both internal and external factors. These responses can be conscious or subconscious, obvious or hidden, and may occur voluntarily or involuntarily. It can be observed, measured, and triggered by different stimuli.
Importance of Identifying the Functions of Behavior
Understanding the functions of behavior is essential for several reasons. It helps in:
- The prevention of undesirable behaviors - behaviors that aren’t beneficial for the individual and those around them, and therefore not sustainable
- Enables the selection of appropriate replacement behaviors
- Aids in the development of effective behavioral plans, particularly with applied behavior analysis.
What Are the Functions of Behavior?
1. Socially-mediated Access
This function includes behaviors aimed at gaining recognition or interaction from others including attention or access to an item or activity, often stemming from a basic human need for social connection, or a desire for something that cannot be accessed without another human’s help.
Common observations of behavior that may be sustained by this include:
- Frequently speaking over others or steering conversations back to themselves.
- Taking unnecessary risks to impress others or provoke reactions.
- Fishing for compliments by putting themselves down or pretending to be unsure about their abilities
- Communicating desires through both verbal and nonverbal means to signal their interest in obtaining a specific item.
- The reinforcement is immediate; once the behavior is performed, the individual gains access to the desired item, showing gratification.
Individuals may seek attention, sometimes even attention in the form of criticism, out of a desire for social interaction. When individuals feel neglected or overlooked, they may opt for attention-seeking behaviors to satisfy their social needs. Individuals may also be motivated by a desire to obtain an item or participate in an activity.
2. Socially Mediated-Escape
This is a way of seeking relief from challenging, uncomfortable, or anxiety-inducing activities, or situations, serving as temporary relief from stressors.
Common observations of behaviors that may be sustained by this include:
- Individuals may resist completing schoolwork, job responsibilities, or daily tasks, often making excuses or expressing discomfort
- Isolating oneself or avoiding interactions to escape potential criticism
- Acting out, arguing, or creating distractions to avoid a task or responsibility
- Frequently asking for assistance with tasks they are capable of completing on their own (although this may be attention-seeking instead)
- Engaging in distractions, such as excessive phone use, daydreaming, or unrelated tasks, to avoid addressing responsibilities
People often show these behaviors when they encounter tasks or situations that they find challenging or distressing. Such behaviors provide immediate relief by allowing them to distance themselves from what is troubling, creating a sense of comfort.
3 & 4. Non-socially Mediated Access and Escape
Often these functions are labeled in combination as automatic reinforcement, referring to behaviors that are internally satisfying or provide sensory stimulation without requiring external rewards, or behaviors that remove a stimulus that is internal or environmental but not involving another social partner. Positive or negative reinforcement either reinforces such behavior because it feels good or because it alleviates an uncomfortable feeling.
Unlike behaviors reinforced by others, these actions are self-rewarding and persist because they either produce pleasure or relieve discomfort.
Common observations of behaviors that may be sustained by this include:
- Repetitive actions such as hand-flapping, spinning, rocking, or humming.
- Self-stimulatory behaviors (stimming), provide internal satisfaction without external feedback.
- Covering ears when it gets too loud
- A preference for engaging in these behaviors alone rather than seeking attention or interaction from others.
- Involuntary persistence of these behaviors, as they become ingrained due to the internal pleasure or relief they provide.
Often these types of behaviors are attributed to individuals with autism who may be more reinforced by internal aspects as opposed to social or societal pressures. However, everyone engages in these types of behaviors (e.g., scratching an itch or smelling a flower).
How Knowing The Function Helps
Working with a professional to determine a function of a behavior that needs to change (either increase or decrease) is so important so that you don’t accidentally make things worse. What if you put a child in time out for yelling and the function of that behavior was escape! You would have inadvertently reinforced that behavior. A behavior analyst or other professional can work with parents, teachers, and caregivers to determine the most efficacious and appropriate function-based interventions.
Conclusion
Understanding the functions of behavior is crucial for addressing and managing various behavioral challenges effectively. By recognizing the underlying motivations behind these behaviors, caregivers, educators, and practitioners can develop targeted strategies to promote positive changes.
This knowledge not only aids in reducing behaviors that aren’t sustainable for the individual, but also empowers individuals to express their needs and desires in socially appropriate ways.