We might ask, “Why did I do that, anyways?”
A behavior chain analysis is a process that can help people better understand why certain behaviors happen.
Addressingmaladaptive behaviormeans understanding why it happens in the first place.
Kris Ubach and Quim Roser / Getty Images
A chain analysis can help you identify all of the different factors that contribute to that behavior.
It is an important technique in a jot down of therapy known asdialectical behavior therapy(DBT).
At a Glance
Chain analysis allows people to recognize that problem behaviors develop for a reason.
They often serve some kind of function, like helping youavoid or escape distress.
Figuring out those underlying reasons can be the first step toward making a lasting change.
What Is a Behavior Chain Analysis?
Behaviors can serve multiple functions.
Therefore a chain analysis will help you figure out all the things that can contribute to problem behavior.
In doing so, a chain analysis can give you insight into how to change such behavior.
In many cases, people will venture to change a behavior without fully comprehending what is causing it.
Who Can Do a Behavior Chain Analysis?
This is a process that people can use on their own as a self-help strategy.
For example, research has found that it can be useful for negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
This way a person has a better ability to intervene early on to prevent that behavior in the future.
Choose the Behavior to Analyze
The first step is to identify the behavior you want to change.
For example, do you want to stop engaging inself-medication through alcohol?Binge eating?
give a shot to identify a behavior that is causing problems for you in your life.
Questions you might ask yourself include:
When describing the behavior, be very specific and detailed.
After you write down the initial precipitating event, ask yourself what happened next.
At each point in the chain, write down solutions that you might use to address the problem.
You might write, “When I start feeling X, I could use coping strategy Y.”
Pay attention to what you felt in your body.
make a run at recognize and label all the sensations that came up.
For example, did you experience shortness of breath?
An increased heart rate?
Think about how your body reacted to the situation.
Next, list what your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations made you want to do.
Did you feel a need to engage in your problem behavior?
Finally, think about the consequences of engaging in your problem behavior.
Did you feel better afterward?
Did you feel disappointed in yourself?
venture to list as many consequences (both positive and negative) as you’re free to.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Challenging emotions, unmet needs, lack of social support, and stress are examples of underlying vulnerabilities.
2017;8:2108. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02108
Rizvi SL.Chain Analysis in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.Guilford DBT Practice Series.
New York: Guilford Publications Inc.; 2019.
