Function Behaviour Analysis: The Detective Tool for Parenting Success
You are the world’s leading expert on your child. You know their favourite foods, the texture of socks they hate, and the specific way they hold their iPad.
But sometimes, a behaviour happens—a meltdown in the shops, hitting a sibling, or refusing to get in the car—and you are left baffled. You ask yourself: Why are they doing this?
If you feel like you are constantly guessing, you are not alone.
When it comes to reducing challenging behaviors in children with autism, guessing is rarely effective. We need a tactical plan. In the world of autism support, we use a process called a Function Behaviour Analysis (FBA). Think of the FBA not as a medical test, but as a detective’s investigation. It is the tactical roadmap we use to figure out exactly why a behaviour is happening so we can teach a better, happier way to handle it.
Here is your straightforward guide to the FBA and how it changes the game for your family.
The Core Concept: Behaviour is Communication
Let’s cut the jargon immediately. We don't view "challenging behaviour" as your child being "naughty." We view it as communication.
Your child has a need. Right now, the behaviour (screaming, biting, dropping to the floor) is the most effective tool they have to get that need met.
The goal of a function behaviour analysis is to translate that behaviour. Once we know the message, we can teach them a safer, easier way to say it.
The Detective Work: The ABCs
To build an FBA, a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) will observe your child and look for a specific pattern called the ABCs.
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1. Antecedent (The Trigger)
What happened immediately before the behaviour?
Example: You said, "Time to turn off the TV."
Example: The classroom became very loud.
2. Behaviour (The Action)
What exactly did the child do? We need to be specific.
Vague: "He got upset."
Specific: "He threw the remote on the floor and screamed for 30 seconds."
3. Consequence (The Result)
What happened immediately after? This is the most critical part because it tells us why the behaviour keeps happening.
Example: You gave the TV back for "five more minutes" to stop the screaming.
The Takeaway: The child learned that screaming works to keep the TV.
Tactical Insight: Do not feel guilty about the "Consequence." As parents, we often do whatever works in the moment to survive. The FBA helps us spot these patterns so we can change them without shame.
The "Why": The 4 Functions of Behaviour
Once the analyst looks at the ABCs, they will categorise the behaviour into one of four "Functions." Almost every behaviour boils down to one of these reasons.
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1. Escape (I want out)
The child wants to get away from a task, a person, or an environment.
The Scenario: You pull out the maths homework. Your child rips the paper. You send them to their room (where they can play with toys).
The Fix: We teach them to ask for a break using words or a card, rather than ripping the paper.
2. Access to Tangibles (I want that thing)
The child wants a specific item or activity.
The Scenario: Your child screams at the checkout because they want a chocolate bar.
The Fix: We teach them to accept "no" or "wait," and we teach them to ask politely before the screaming starts.
3. Attention (Look at me)
The child wants social interaction—even if it’s negative interaction (like being told off). To a child, being shouted at is sometimes better than being ignored.
The Scenario: You are on the phone. Your child starts jumping on the couch. You hang up and scold them.
The Fix: We teach them to tap your shoulder to get attention, and we flood them with praise when they are playing quietly.
4. Sensory / Automatic (It feels good)
The child does the behaviour because it feels good internally. It doesn’t depend on anyone else.
The Scenario: Rocking back and forth, humming, or hand-flapping.
The Fix: If it’s safe, we often let these be! If it’s harmful (like head-banging), we find safer replacement behaviours that provide the same sensory input.
From Analysis to Action
An FBA is useless if it sits in a drawer. The only reason we do this analysis is to build a Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP).
This plan gives you and the school teachers a tactical script. It tells you:
Proactive Strategies: How to stop the trigger before it starts.
Replacement Skills: What new skill we are teaching the child to use instead.
Response Strategies: Exactly how to react if the challenging behaviour happens, ensuring we don't accidentally reinforce it.
Your Tactical Checklist
If your therapy team or school suggests an FBA, here is your action plan:
Define the Behaviour: Agree on one specific behaviour to target first. Don't try to fix everything at once.
Be Honest: When they ask what you do when the meltdown happens, tell the truth. If you give them a lolly to keep them quiet, say so. The analyst needs accurate data to help you.
Ask for the "Replacement": Always ask, "If we stop this behaviour, what are we teaching him to do instead?" We never take away a coping mechanism without giving a better one back.
The Final Word
An FBA is not a judgment on you as a parent or on your child’s character. It is simply science that allows us to listen better. When we understand the "why," we replace frustration with communication. This approach equips your child with the tools needed to navigate the world happily and independently.
