Behavior Chain Analysis: Understanding Behaviors

• Behavior chain analysis is a method to comprehend why certain behaviors occur.

Applications

• Chain analysis is valuable for determining the elements that contribute to maladaptive behaviors.
• Chain analysis is useful in treating mental health issues such as:
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Borderline personality disorder BPD
  • Substance abuse
• Chain analysis can be used as part of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Technique

• Chain analysis is a method designed to aid in understanding the purpose of a specific behavior.
• The goal of chain analysis is to identify all of the factors that contributed to conduct, for instance deliberate self-harm.
• Behaviors can have various purposes, thus a chain analysis should be carried out for various circumstances that resulted in problematic conduct.
• A chain analysis helps determine all potential contributing factors to conduct.

How To Perform a Chain Analysis

• Identify the situation they were in.
• Note the thoughts they were experiencing.
• Identify the feelings they were having preceding the behavior.
• This can improve understanding of the risk factors for problematic behavior.
• It helps a person better intervene to avoid conduct in the future.

Selecting a Behavior

• The first step is identifying the behavior for change.
• For instance, consider reducing alcohol self-medication or binge eating.
• Pinpoint actions that are producing issues and also questions to consider:
  • What event triggered the behavior?
  • When did the issue originate?
  • What was happening when it began?
  • What ideas, feelings, or actions did you experience?
  • Describe the behavior in detail.

Identifying Chain Links

• Consider what happened just before engaging in problematic conduct.
• Note the initial event that set things off, and then consider the next time.
• Questions to consider include:
  • What thought or feeling did you have afterwards?
  • What actions took place?
  • How did you feel both during and after the action?
  • What exactly were you doing?
  • What was the surrounding environment like?
  • Were you having an argument?
  • Was a painful memory brought on?
• The purpose is to identify the underlying event or circumstance that initiated the problematic conduct.

Focus on Thought Patterns

• Determine which thoughts resulted from the event or circumstance that caused the problematic conduct.
• How did you assess the circumstance and assess yourself?
• Did you think in a catastrophic or all-or-nothing way?
• Recognizing patterns in thoughts is crucial as it allows for identifying strategies to modify unhelpful thoughts.

Seeking Resolutions

• Consider solutions to address diverse aspects of behavior, which are determined by the individual, the behavior, and the resources that are accessible.
• What alternatives might you have taken at each juncture in the sequence?
• What coping mechanisms could have been utilized?
• What abilities do you possess that might enable you to manage that behavior, thought, or feeling more successfully?
• Could you learn new skills that would benefit you?
• Note potential solutions at each stage of the chain, such as "If I begin to feel X, I can use coping strategy Y."

Reviewing the Chain of Events

• When considering review of events, consider the the emotions you were experiencing as a result of the event.
• List as many emotions as you can, including fear, sorrow, rage, shame, guilt, humiliation, or dread.
• Take note of any physical sensations.
• Recognize and name the sensations you felt.
• Be aware of how your body reacted to the circumstance (shortness of breath?, Muscle tension? Or an elevated heartbeat?).
• List the sensations that caused you to want to do (escape the situation or cease feeling those feelings?). Did you have the urge to participate in problematic behavior?

Consequences

• Consider the repercussions of your actions.
• Do you feel better now?
• Are you disappointed in yourself?
• Are you ashamed?
• List as many consequences as you can, both good and bad.

Identifying Healthier Coping Strategies

• Consider what coping mechanisms might be used at each stage following the chain analysis.
• Determine how to "break the chain" by using more positive coping mechanisms and the function that the behavior serves.