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The Think Sensory Summit · Season 1 · Bonus · Infographic

Re-Framing Behavior "Functions" - Infographic

From Greg Santucci, MS, OTR/L

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This visual guide challenges the traditional behavioral approach of reducing children's actions to four simple "functions." Greg illustrates how the old paradigm focuses only on observable behavior—labeling actions as attention-seeking, escape, getting something, or sensory—while the re-frame prioritizes understanding what's actually happening for the child beneath the behavior.

Instead of surface-level categorization, this compassionate re-frame recognizes that behaviors signal:

  • An emotion they can't handle
  • A need that's not being met
  • A skill they don't have
  • A problem they can't solve

As Greg's infographic reminds us: "The human experience cannot be simplified to four 'functions'. A re-frame is necessary that focuses on helping the child rather than modifying behavior."

This resource is perfect for therapists, educators, and parents who want to move beyond compliance-based approaches and truly understand the children they support.