The Primary Functions of Behavior

Primary functions of behavior are important to finding solutions to problems, to increasing social acceptance, and even to modeling business in an effort to expand a market. Whatever in life one tries to accomplish, behavior plays an important role. 

Behavior is anything a person does. Even blinking our eyes is behavior. Back in 1965, Ogden Lindsley developed "The Dead Man's Test", a test to easily discern behavior from non-behavior. Simply stated, if a dead man can do it, it isn't behavior. Most people to this day only think of behavior in terms of bad behavior, or something that draws attention to oneself. 

Years ago, cartoons depicted cavemen who demonstrated affect without words. You could easily tell what the cavemen's wants and needs were simply by their actions

In the 1950's Warner Bros. "Caveman Inki" portrayed a wise clever little caveman without speech. 

This wasn't the only example, as many cartoons, shows, and movie characters often had no words and a story was told with perfection. Buster Keaton and Charley Chase made memories to last a lifetime for those who had the pleasure of watching them. 

Mimes have made a living on conveying messages without words. 

Every behavior has a function: To Escape something or to Get something. In ABA, this is broken down into more specific terms. Vollmer and Matson, 2008, put behavior into categories to collect questionnaire data from interviewees, in an effort to contribute to data collection to form a hypothesized function for behavior. One might want to escape boredom, escape a task, escape physical pain or illness, need sensory input, want a tangible item, or want attention. These are all reasons behavior might occur, and if a hypothesized function can be determined, a behavior can be reduced or eliminated by replacement behaviors. 

You are out with your non-verbal son with autism on the 4th of July. Fireworks start and you are seated on a blanket under the stars in a field. You are watching him relax on the blanket because it is usually his bedtime. When the fireworks begin, you see him get up and run from the blanket, pace back and forth, and flap his hands next to his face back and forth. He begins making grunting rhythmic noises with his tongue. People in the park begin to stare. You hear some say, "I guess he doesn't like fireworks."

We interpret actions through our own experience with actions, and also through the sequence of events in which those actions occurred. Caveman Inki, when greeted by a dinosaur outside his cave, gave an expression of fear, mouth opened in an O-shape, and his body then turned away from the dinosaur as he began to run. One could deduce that the dinosaur, with his sharp teeth, would have thought Caveman Inki made a nice meal. We know by Caveman Inki's actions AND what we know about dinosaurs that Caveman Inki's intention is to escape being eaten. We know the dinosaur's intention is to get access to a tangible (Caveman Inki is potentially food). So not only do we know through the expressions and our knowledge of dinosaurs, we also know that Caveman Inki only ran away at the sight of the dinosaur, and so sequence of events affects behavior. We also know that one person or thing's actions may affect another person or thing's actions. If the dinosaur had been outside the cave, but not looking at Caveman Inki, would he have run from the dinosaur? Perhaps he could have went back into the cave, or slipped away unseen. Either way, the goal to escape being eaten would remain the goal. 

Sometimes behavior has multiple functions. 

1. Nail Biters- Sensory? Escape a daunting task? 
2. Screaming- Attention? Sensory? Escape something feared?
3. Going to a grocery store- Escape another setting? Access to tangible items? Attention from other shoppers?

Whatever the function of behavior a solution can be tried. A manager might be nervous to see a child react in a restaurant the way the child did to the fireworks. However, if the manager knew the function of the child's behavior, he or she may be able to eliminate it by providing a solution. The manager could seek a professional, or take some ABA courses to learn more about functions of behavior. In turn, the manager would be able to expand his or her market because the restaurant would be more receptive of the needs of someone who doesn't like loud noises, or is bothered by something in the restaurant. 

A salon or barber, who only cuts hair with clients seated might be able to adapt its practices if they knew the function of a client's behavior when the client was not able to sit in the chair. By observing and getting feedback from caregivers, alternative methods of cutting hair might be successful. 

Behavioral function is important not only for businesses but for everyone. Behavior brings people together, but it is also the very thing that people can fear and keep people apart. 

Learn more about behavioral function by signing up for our Certified Autism Friendly Local Business. We design our programs for local businesses' unique needs, to expand their market, and also to help people with disabilities live in the community. 

Not a local business? We might be able to help you through our outreach events. Visit our Give Back to the Community Program, We provide resources to those in need, and volunteer opportunities. Have a specific question about behavior? Email us at UmbrellaFCST@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you. 

Are you a parent of a child with autism who lives in Bucks County? Join our Bucks County Parent Group for Autism Support on Facebook.