Applied behavior analysis (ABA) can be used to help address an individual’s challenging behavior. This behavior often has negative effects on the individual and those around them. Some examples of challenging behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Causing harm to themselves
- Refusing requests
- Ignoring instruction
- Destroying materials and property
- Behaving aggressively
- Refusing to attend school
It is essential to determine the function/cause of challenging behavior in order to develop a plan to help decrease the occurrence of these behaviors.
Why Is It Important to Understand the Function of a Behavior?
To determine how to best respond to a behavior, it’s essential to understand the function of a behavior. Why is this behavior happening? What does it accomplish for the individual engaging in the behavior?
In many cases, behavior is a form of communication. What is this individual communicating when they engage in this behavior?
Once we understand a behavior’s function, we can teach an individual a more safe, appropriate, and functional way to communicate and get their needs met. We can also make sure to avoid inadvertently reinforcing an interfering behavior. If an individual finds that an interfering behavior “works” to get their needs met, then they’re more likely to engage in that behavior again in the future.
How Is ABA Used to Address Challenging Behavior?
- A behavior assessment (often referred to as a Functional Behavior Assessment or FBA) is used to identify challenging behaviors that interfere with learning and socialization. Information is gathered to develop a hypothesis about the function(s) of the behaviors, to better understand why the behaviors are happening.
- The information from the FBA is used to develop interventions to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of those behaviors.
- A behavior plan is then developed and followed by the team.
- Ongoing data collection determines if the behavior plan is working and if changes need to be made to the plan.
