Human behavior by far is the most fascinating and interesting concept studied by mankind. From the beginning of time, people have tried to understand what makes people “tick.” Whether it be out of curiosity or control over another individual, the root cause has yet to be discovered. In my opinion, that is what makes it interesting. Deciphering the root cause can be found through observation, data, research, and much more. Patience and determination is also key but for the sake of time, let’s explore the basics.

When trying to figure out the function of a behavior (i.e. what is causing the behavior), one must be willing to collect data on three basic components. In the behavior world, we call this the “ABCs.”

A=Antecedent

What situation or occurrence came immediately before the behavior?

B=Behavior

What did the behavior look like? Describe it. How intense was the behavior? Imagine you are sharing this information with someone who has their eyes closed. Can they envision what you are describing?

C=Consequence

What was the direct result of the behavior? Did the individual gain attention from an adult, peer, sibling, or others around them? Where they able to avoid/escape a non-preferred task or situation? Did they obtain something they like? Did the behavior result in a self-stimulating or sensory pleasing effect?

4 things to keep in mind when documenting ABCs: 

1. List the the basic facts of the incident and omit opinion, feeling, or personal theories. Save that for a different format.
2. Date, time, location, duration, intensity, and frequency are helpful pieces of information and should be documented per incident of occurrence.
3. Maintain a log, checklist, or chart for your data but stay away from long overdrawn details that may cloud the important details and facts.
4. Keep a “cheat-sheet” of your ABC data to record incidents as they occur. If possible (and strongly recommended) transfer this information onto an organized forum. Lately, I have been utilizing my Google Drive to maintain up to date data in a neat organized fashion, which can be accessed and shared with others in real time

What else would you like to know about FBA’s? Comment below…

Thanks for reading! Check back for more Behavior Savvy Solutions coming soon!