Understanding Why We Act: The Four Functions of Behaviors

Every behavior serves a purpose or function. As human beings with free choice, we act purposefully and to fill a need whether or not we are fully aware of it. Understanding the function of a behavior will help us understand the reason behind the action and how we can handle unhelpful behaviors in ourselves and those around us. 

Most functions of behavior fall into four categories, with the acronym EATS:

Function #1 - Escape

Sometimes things feel so overwhelming that we just want to avoid them. We all feel that way periodically, and escape means doing whatever we can to leave the situation that we’re in. Escape as a function of behavior can be adaptive or helpful, like if we hear a fire alarm go off and leave the building. Other times, it can make it harder for us to be successful, like if we call in sick before every big work deadline.

Function #2 - Attention

You may have heard people say things to the effect of, “she’s just doing it for attention.” Attention gets a bad reputation, and there’s a lot of judgement around trying to get attention from others as if it is negative or problematic. But here’s the thing- we all act to get attention! Attention from other people is a human need, and is essential in building meaningful relationships, developing our personal self, and learning how to be a part of the social world. Attention can be positive or negative - when we give attention to negative behavior, it will become more frequent, and similarly when we give attention to positive behavior. 

Function #3 - Tangibles

When the function of our behavior is gaining access to tangibles, we are engaging in behavior to gain access to something that we can touch or feel. When we were young, an effective way to meet this function looked like being kind to a friend so they would share their snack. In an ineffective way, throwing a tantrum to get screen time. Of course, adults do this too! We go to work to make money, we might fill out a survey to get a free coffee. All of this to gain access to physical things that are meaningful to us. 

Function #4 - Sensory

Scratching a hard to reach place on your back, playing with a fidget spinner when antsy during class, or taking off a pair of itchy socks. All of these behaviors are about meeting an internal sensory experience. In the first two cases, the sensory function aims to give you a positive internal sensation- when you have an itch or just the wiggles, you’re engaging in behaviors that meet your need there. On the flipside, removing an unpleasant sensation, like taking off itchy socks, can equally regulate sensory needs.  

“Is this the most effective way to get to the function of the behavior?”

All of our behavior functions can be met through helpful/effective or unhelpful/ineffective behaviors. We behave in certain ways so that our needs can be met, and sometimes posing this question to ourselves can help us evaluate whether we are behaving in the most helpful manner to get what we ultimately want. In others, we can try to understand what people are seeking in behavioral interactions to help them be more effective as well.