What is a behavior chain?

A behavior chain consists of a series of individual responses that are interconnected to ultimately produce a terminal behavior, which is the final goal or outcome of the chain. Each link in the chain represents a specific behavior that must occur in a specific order to achieve the desired result. This concept is essential in understanding how complex behaviors can be broken down into smaller, manageable components that lead to a larger behavior.

For instance, when teaching a child to wash their hands, the behavior chain would include turning on the tap, getting soap, rubbing their hands together, rinsing, and then turning off the tap. Each step is necessary and linked to the overall goal of clean hands. This structured approach is vital in behavioral training and therapy, as it allows practitioners to identify where a breakdown might occur in the chain and to intervene accordingly. Understanding behavior chains aids in developing effective teaching strategies and behavior modification techniques.