Behavioral Terms
ABC’s of Behavior
A simple tool used to understand why a behavior happens. It stands for Antecedent (what happens before the behavior), Behavior (the action itself), and Consequence (what happens after). Looking at all three helps caregivers and professionals figure out what’s triggering a behavior and how to respond more effectively.
Antecedent-Based Intervention (ABI)
A strategy that modifies the environment or circumstances before a behavior occurs to prevent challenging behaviors and encourage positive ones.
BCBA – Board Certified Behavior Analyst
A BCBA is a licensed professional trained in behavior analysis. They assess behavior, create individualized intervention plans, and oversee therapy—often including ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)—to help individuals build skills and reduce challenging behaviors. BCBAs often supervise therapists and work closely with families to support meaningful progress.
BHI – Behavioral Health Integration
A healthcare approach that brings mental health services into primary care settings. BHI helps doctors, therapists, and other providers work together to support the emotional and behavioral needs of individuals—making it easier to access care for issues like anxiety, depression, or autism-related challenges alongside general health services.
BSC – Behavioral Support Consultant
A professional who designs and oversees behavior support plans for individuals with behavioral or developmental needs. BSCs often work in homes, schools, or community settings to assess behaviors, create strategies, and support families and teams in using positive, effective interventions.
Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
A structured plan was developed to address challenging behaviors by identifying triggers and providing strategies to teach alternative skills and reinforce positive behaviors.
Challenging Behavior
Any behavior that interferes with learning, social interactions, or daily activities, such as aggression, self-injury, or tantrums.
Executive Functioning
A set of cognitive skills that help with planning, organization, time management, emotional regulation, and impulse control. Deficits in executive functioning can make daily tasks and transitions difficult.
Extinction
A behavioral strategy where a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time.
Function of Behavior
The reason or purpose behind a behavior is typically categorized as attention-seeking, escape, access to tangibles, or sensory stimulation.
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
A process used to identify the cause of challenging behaviors in order to create an effective intervention plan, often leading to a BIP.
Generalization
The ability to apply a learned skill in different settings, with different people, or in different situations beyond where it was originally taught.
IBHS – Intensive Behavioral Health Services
A Pennsylvania-based program that provides individualized behavioral, emotional, and social support to children and adolescents. IBHS includes services like therapy, behavioral interventions, and caregiver support, and can be delivered at home, in school, or in the community. It replaced the former Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS) model.
Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
An approach that focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors rather than punishing negative ones, aiming to create supportive learning environments.
Prompting
A teaching strategy that involves giving cues or assistance to help an individual complete a task or respond correctly, gradually fading the prompts over time.
RBT – Registered Behavior Technician
A certified paraprofessional who works under the supervision of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to provide direct behavior therapy, often using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). RBTs help implement behavior plans, teach new skills, and support individuals in home, school, and community settings.
Reinforcement
A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. Reinforcement can be positive (adding a reward) or negative (removing an unpleasant stimulus).
Response Interruption and Redirection (RIR)
A technique used to interrupt repetitive or harmful behaviors and redirect attention to a more appropriate activity.
Self-Regulation
The ability to manage emotions, behaviors, and sensory input in response to different situations.
Sensory-Seeking Behavior
Actions performed to stimulate the senses, such as spinning, rocking, or mouthing objects, are often used as a way to self-regulate.
Sensory Sensitivities
An increased or decreased response to sensory input, such as sounds, textures, lights, or movement, can impact behavior and daily functioning.
Stereotypy (Self-Stimulatory Behavior or “Stimming”)
Repetitive movements, sounds, or actions such as hand-flapping, rocking, or echolalia can help with self-regulation or sensory processing.
Task Analysis
A strategy that breaks down a complex task into smaller, manageable steps, making it easier to learn and complete.
Token Economy
A reinforcement system where individuals earn tokens or points for positive behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards.
Transition Strategies
Techniques used to help individuals move smoothly from one activity to another, such as using timers, visual schedules, or verbal warnings.