All Behavior Has a Function
Applied behavior analysis teaches us that every behavior — including challenging behavior — is a form of communication. When an individual does not have the language, skills, or tools to meet their needs in a socially acceptable way, they use whatever behavior has worked in the past. The behavior is not the problem; it is a symptom of an unmet need.
This is why punishment-based approaches so often fail. Punishing a behavior without addressing its function simply teaches the individual to find a different behavior to meet the same need — often one that is equally or more challenging. Effective intervention requires understanding the function first.
Common Types of Challenging Behaviors
Aggression
Hitting, kicking, biting, scratching, throwing objects at others
Self-Injurious Behavior
Head banging, self-hitting, skin picking, biting self
Property Destruction
Breaking objects, tearing materials, damaging furniture
Elopement
Running away from caregivers, leaving safe environments without permission
Non-Compliance
Refusing directives, task avoidance, passive non-response
Verbal Disruption
Screaming, yelling, verbal threats, repetitive vocalizations
The Behavior Pathway: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
Behavior analysts use the ABC model to understand the context of challenging behaviors:
Antecedent
What happens immediately before the behavior? The setting, the demand, the person present, the time of day. Antecedents set the stage for behavior.
Behavior
The specific, observable, measurable action itself. Not 'he was upset' — but 'he hit the table three times with an open palm.'
Consequence
What happens immediately after the behavior? What does the individual gain or avoid? This is where the function lives.
Complex Behaviors Require Complex Assessment
Many clients seen by Copper Valley have experienced multiple failed interventions before reaching us. This is often because their behaviors are maintained by multiple functions simultaneously, or because previous assessments were conducted in only one environment and missed critical contextual factors.
Our clinicians are trained to assess across all environments — home, school, community, and workplace — and to look at the whole person, including co-occurring diagnoses, medication effects, medical factors, and sensory profiles. This comprehensive view is what allows us to design interventions that work where others have not.