A Framework for Solving Behavior Problems: Functional Assessment and Intervention Planning

Behavior problems exhibited by exotic pets are frequently the impetus for caregivers to seek help from veterinary professionals. One barrier to helping caregivers resolve these problems is the commonly held view that behavior is something an animal has rather than something it does, given certain conditions. By identifying and changing the conditions in which problem behaviors occur, these inappropriate behaviors can be replaced with appropriate behaviors, and caregivers and pets will experience more success living together. Functional assessment is a set of procedures used to identify the functionally related environmental conditions that maintain problem behaviors. These procedures have been well validated within the field of applied behavior analysis, particularly with children exhibiting severe behavior problems. Functional assessment appears to have wide applicability to pets and other animals in captivity as well. The outcome of a good functional assessment is a summary statement that includes: 1) a clear, observable description of the problem behavior; 2) the general and immediate environmental conditions that predict the behavior; and 3) the purpose the behavior serves for the animal (e.g., the consequences the behavior produces). With this information, environmental changes can be made to make the problem behavior irrelevant, inefficient, and ineffective. Without this information, the wrong behavior may inadvertently be reinforced. At the same time, alternate behaviors that are acceptable to the caregivers can be reinforced to meet the same, or different, functions for the animal. A framework for accomplishing a functional assessment and systematic intervention planning is presented.