What does the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) assume about behavior?

The correct choice emphasizes that behavior serves specific purposes in specific situations. A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) operates on the premise that behaviors are not random but rather serve distinct functions for the individual exhibiting them. Understanding these functions is crucial for developing effective interventions.

The focus of the FBA is to identify the underlying reasons why a student may engage in certain behaviors, whether those are to gain attention, escape a task, seek sensory input, or communicate a need. By identifying the purpose behind a behavior, educators and support staff can tailor their strategies to address the root of the behavior instead of just its surface manifestations.

This approach recognizes that behaviors can change and adapt when the appropriate supports and interventions are put in place. It shifts the perspective from viewing behavior as merely a response to external stimuli to understanding it as a meaningful action aimed at fulfilling specific needs.