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Conducting A Functional Behavioral Assessment

Some Common Functions Served by Misbehaving

By: Joan M. Miller, Ph.D.

Some common functions served by misbehaving are . . .

getting attention from teachers or peers - for example . . .

• arriving late -> people look at you
• talking when you're supposed to be quiet ---> the teacher reprimands you
• making silly noises or telling dumb jokes ---> peers talk to you ( or about you within your hearing)
• giving a flip answer to a teacher's question ---> peers laugh at you

escaping work, people, noise, or something else - for example . . .

• hand-flapping and moaning ---> getting to go sit in the "quiet" room
• giving a really wrong answer to a vocabulary question --->getting a teacher to "throw up her arms" in exasperation and walk away, never calling you to read aloud
• cursing at the teacher when she insists you do the assignment ---> getting sent to the vice principal's office and thereby getting out of English class
• throwing a kicking, screaming, flailing temper tantrum ---> getting out of morning circle (and getting comfort from the teacher or aide, which would also be an example of getting attention from teachers or peers)

obtaining a desired object or event - for example . . .

• threatening to "get" a peer after school ---> getting the peer to hand over his dessert
• yelling "It's not fair," "You don't like me," or "He cut in front" ---> getting the teacher to let you be first in line
• cursing at the teacher when she insists you do the assignment ---> getting to see the teacher "lose it" by ranting and raving in front of the class
• flicking the light switch on and off ---> getting to watch a light flicker on and off
• yelling that you won't do "this baby work" ---> getting the teacher to help you with the assignment

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