It can be frustrating to see your child engaging in undesirable behaviors like hitting, screaming, or nagging. Behavior that is considered "undesirable" may look different for each family, but it can still be frustrating and confusing when we do not know why this behavior is occurring.
To get straight to the point, there are four primary functions or reasons a behavior may occur: attention/social connection, tangible, sensory, and escape. When looking at what happens before, during, and after a behavior occurs, we can identify the reason for the behavior as linking to one primary reason for the behavior. Secondary functions of behavior can also occur.
Lets dive deeper into these four functions of behavior:
Sensory | Stimulation that feels good to the child such as rocking, tapping, touching, or pressure. | ![]() |
Escape | Removal from an undesired activity or situation. | ![]() |
Attention/Social Connection | This can include both negative and positive social interaction such as scolding, interacting, or talking. | ![]() |
Tangible | Items that your child can hold. Some examples include iPads, toys, and candies. | ![]() |
In order to figure out which category is best for the behavior you are workin with, take a look at what is happening before, during, and after the behavior. Is your child screaming and crying because they want a toy from the store (tangible)? Are they hitting while doing homework because they do not want to complete the homework anymore (escape?) Identifying the function of a behavior takes practice, but it is the first step in changing challenging and undesired behavior!
Tip: Keep a log of behaviors and possible functions to help identify patterns.
Thanks for reading!
- Kaylee James, PsyD
Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog and website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this on the website is intended to be a substitute for professional, psychological, psychiatric, or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Please note that no doctor-patient, supervisory, or consultative relationship is formed. If you need the qualified advice, supervision, or consultation of any mental health practitioner or medical provider, please seek one in your area.
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