EP 271: 4 Functions of Behavior, FBAs, and a Nervous System Approach

EP 271: 4 Functions of Behavior, FBAs, and a Nervous System Approach

Author: Robyn Gobbel June 23, 2026 Duration: 49:14
For years, "the four functions of behavior" has been the go-to framework for understanding why kids do what they do: attention, escape, access to tangibles, sensory. It's not wrong, but it's not the whole story either. In this episode, we dig into where this model actually came from, what it leaves out, and what's underneath it once we go looking with a relational neuroscience lens. In this episode, you'll learn: Where the four functions of behavior actually came from, and why this is r...

Robyn Gobbel, an internationally recognized expert in children's mental health, hosts The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}. This podcast serves as a compassionate guide for parents raising children whose nervous systems are vulnerable due to past trauma, toxic stress, neuroimmune disorders, or sensory processing differences. Each episode is dedicated to decoding the confusing and often overwhelming behaviors that can leave caregivers feeling isolated and unsure. Robyn translates complex neuroscience and attachment theory into practical, relatable insights, moving beyond simple behavioral tips to address the root causes of family stress. You'll find a sense of community and understanding here, a place where the struggle is acknowledged without judgment. The conversations in this podcast offer more than strategies; they provide a framework for building safety and connection, helping to shift your perspective from "what's wrong with my child" to "what happened to my child." It’s a resource for anyone exhausted by conventional advice that hasn't worked, emphasizing that you are not alone on this journey. Through stories, expert interviews, and Robyn's own grounded wisdom, the podcast fosters resilience and hope, empowering you to create a family life grounded in co-regulation and mutual understanding.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}
Podcast Episodes
REPLAY: Titrating Connection- Oppositional Series Part 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:05
In this episode, I unravel how to extend connection to our children while acknowledging that some might see this connection as a threat. I offer insights on toning down the demand for connection, enabling our children to…
REPLAY: When Connection isn't Safe- Oppositional Series Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:57
If offering safety and connection is the antidote to oppositional behavior, what do you do if connection isn’t experienced as safe or regulating by your child? In this episode you’ll learn: How connection and protection…
REPLAY: Strategies for Oppositional Behavior- Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:17
Last week we talked about the science of oppositional behavior. This week, let’s look at strategies to help children rest into felt safety so their nervous system feels better and their oppositional protective strategies…
REPLAY: Oppositional And Defiant Behavior- Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:22
What if oppositional behavior is a normal response to feeling unsafe? In this episode, we unfold the layers of oppositional behavior and its roots in the nervous system. We look into the diagnostic complexities of Opposi…
REPLAY: Felt Safety (Between) Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:51
Cues of safety, danger, or life threat come from three places- inside, outside, and between. In part 3 of this series on felt safety, we are exploring felt safety from between- from relationship! In this episode, you’ll…
REPLAY: Felt Safety (Outside) Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:13
In this second episode of a three-part series on felt safety, we are going to explore all the ways our kids (and ourselves) are neuroceiving safety or danger from what’s happening in the environment. In this episode, you…