Functions of Behavior

1. Katy was presented with work from her teacher.  Katy cried and threw her work to the ground.  Katy’s teacher sent her into the hall for a break.  Katy’s crying continued to increase in the future.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or sensory

• tangible or access

2.  Clayton screams out the answers to questions when the teacher is introducing a new topic.  The teacher reprimands him and asks him to raise his hand.  Clayton’s screaming out increases in the future.

• attention

• escape

• automatic sensory

• tangible or sensory

4.  Dylan was not helping out his parents at home.  Now, if Dylan cleans the dishes after dinner, mom lets him have 30 minutes of TV time before bed.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or sensory

• tangible or access

Sarah leaves work late and takes a different route in order to avoid traffic.  In the future, Sarah continues to take that route when she leaves work late.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or snsory

• tangible or access

Zach was having to share his Xbox time with his sister.  Now he hits his sister and screams at her until she leaves the room.  Then Zach gets to play the Xbox.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or sensory

• tangible or access

6. Miles went camping and got 5 mosquito bites.  He continues to scratch his bites because they are itchy.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or sensory

• tangible or access

7.  Hunter whistles when he is in his classroom, bedroom, and the bathroom.  He whistles if his parents are around or if he is alone.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or sensory

• tangible or access

8.  When Mary’s mom is on the phone with a friend, Mary throws toys at her sister until mom gets off and holds her in her lap in “time out”.

• attention

• escape

• automatic or sensory

• tangible or access