Functional Analysis Explained What is a Functional Analysis? Detective Work! Today, I want to talk about a behaviour analysis tool called Functional Analysis and explain how it helps us figure out why people do what they do. See, when we understand the reasons behind behaviors, we can find better ways to intervene and make positive changes. A functional analysis is like detective work, trying to uncover the purpose a behavior serves for someone. Is it for attention, escaping something they don't like, getting stuff they want, or maybe it fulfills a sensory need? By finding alternative behaviors that meet the same needs, we can help people replace problematic behaviors with healthier ones. This approach has been successful in reducing things like self-injury, aggression, and property damage. There are many types of functional analysis methods. But for the purposes of this blog I will break them down into two main types - Traditional and New. Traditional Functional Analysis  Traditio