The ABCs of Bullying
Addressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression

Module 4: Screening and Assessment - Page 4 of 22

Functional Behavioral Assessment

Almost all professionals in the field agree on one thing: No one knows exactly what causes problem behavior. Schools have frequently reacted to bad behavior by suspending problem students. However, if the underlying causes are not addressed, the behavior will repeat itself and possibly get worse after students are suspended.

Functional behavioral assessment is an approach that diagnoses the causes of problem behavior (such as bullying) and identifies likely interventions. Functional behavioral assessment looks beyond the behavior itself and focuses on the underlying biological, social, affective, and environmental factors that initiate, sustain, or end the behavior.ref Research has shown that focusing on "why" the student behaves badly, or the underlying motivation, is more effective than focusing on the behavior alone.

Did You Know?

Research has shown that focusing on "why" the student behaves badly, or the underlying motivation, is more effective than focusing on the behavior alone.

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