Your ABC Data is Lying to You (Well, Kind of…)
Hey everyone—welcome back! If you read last week’s post (and if you haven’t, go check it out), you already know where this is headed. We talked about the limitations of ABC data, how it sometimes oversimplifies behavior, and why zooming out is the key to understanding those unpredictable meltdowns. This week, we’re diving deeper. You’ve been waiting for this. Let’s get into it.
Most of us were trained to hyper-focus on the immediate antecedents and consequences. Kiddo loses the iPad, tantrums, gets it back. Bam—access-maintained behavior. But what happens when that same kiddo is fine with losing the iPad on Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday, he’s suddenly ready to burn the clinic down over it?
You probably know what I mean. Overnight—inexplicably—the things that didn’t seem to cause tantrums suddenly do. Worse yet, the things that brought a child joy, also aren’t as reinforcing any more. Your ABC data says it’s access…or attention…or escape. But deep down, you know that it isn’t that simple.
Behavior doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in layers. And, before you make the assumption that ABC data tells the whole story, you’ll want to look really hard at each layer. For me, there are three.
The first layer? Look for Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Trauma changes everything. A child who has experienced neglect, abuse, or instability might not simply be reacting to a momentary loss of attention, access, or escape, etc. They’re navigating a world where connection feels fragile, unpredictable, and maybe even unsafe. That tantrum for attention might not be about the RBT’s temporary divided attention. It might be about the parent who left, the foster home rotation, or a deep-seated fear of abandonment. Trauma rewires reinforcement. It shifts the entire behavioral landscape.
The second layer? Home environment dynamics. Not every challenge is trauma, but plenty of things can still wreak havoc on a kid’s emotional stability. Mom works nights. Dad’s on 12-hour shifts. Maybe grandma is the primary caregiver three days a week, and then suddenly, it’s mom again. Maybe home is cramped. Maybe there’s a lot of yelling—not even the bad kind, just the chaotic, loud, messy kind that makes each bedtime unpredictable and each morning stressful. These are the subtle, everyday stressors that don’t show up in your ABC data but absolutely show up in your learner’s behavior. Again, this may change things and may require more in-depth parent trainings.
Finally, there’s the third layer: Day-to-day struggles. The normal, human, annoying life stuff. Maybe the kid didn’t sleep well. Maybe allergies are making them miserable. Maybe mom had to change shifts at work, and now bedtime is an hour later. These aren’t major life events, but they’re enough to tip the scales on any given day. If you’re looking at ABC data and wondering why the same trigger suddenly sets off a meltdown today when it was fine yesterday, this is where you might start looking.
Zooming out isn’t just about identifying these layers.
It’s about knowing what to do with them. If trauma is at play, your approach needs to change. That kiddo tantruming for attention might not just need reinforcement strategies—they might need consistent, predictable attachment from their caregivers. If the home environment is a mess, maybe parent training should focus on structure and routine rather than just reinforcing vocalizations. And if it’s a day-to-day struggle, maybe you need to note when there has been an illness, allergy, or a poor night of sleep.
This is why behavior analysis needs to be dynamic. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and rigid adherence to ABC data without context is a recipe for misinterpretation.
You’ve got to be willing to step back, question the data, and consider the bigger picture.
So, if your ABC data is making you feel like you’re losing your mind—good. That means you’re paying attention and that you probably suspect that there is more going on.
Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.