Board Certified Autism Technician (BCAT) Practice Test 2025 - Free BCAT Practice Questions and Study Guide

The function of behavior refers to the reason behind a person's actions and can typically be categorized into a limited number of types. One of the primary functions is attention-seeking behavior, where an individual behaves in a certain way to gain attention from others. This can occur through positive means, such as praise, or negative means, like yelling or throwing a tantrum if they perceive that this will capture the attention of others.

Understanding attention as a function is crucial for practitioners working with individuals with autism, as many behaviors can be modified by recognizing the underlying need for attention. When behavior is interpreted through this lens, intervention strategies can be tailored to provide appropriate forms of attention in constructive ways, thus reducing the problematic behaviors that stem from a lack of this need being met.

While escape and control are also functions of behavior, the choice given as the right answer focuses specifically on attention, which is a fundamental aspect of behavioral analysis in understanding and addressing the needs of individuals with autism.