Why Understanding Setting Events Is Paramount In Positive Behaviour Support

Setting Events: The Missing Piece of Behaviour Support Plans

Great BSPs talk about triggers—the immediate thing that sets off a behaviour.
But what if the real cause started hours, days, or even weeks earlier?

That’s where setting events come in.

Some common examples of setting events:

A bad night’s sleep
A missed meal
A stressful family situation
Sensory overload from a loud event the day before

These factors don’t immediately cause behaviour, but they lower someone’s threshold for handling stress. Think of it like carrying a backpack of bricks—each setting event adds weight, and suddenly, a tiny trip-up makes everything spill over.

The Problem & The Solution

Most BSPs focus only on reacting to behaviours.
Instead, we need to predict and prepare by addressing setting events before behaviours escalate.

Practical Examples:

If someone we support has trouble sleeping, adjust expectations for the next day. Maybe social demands need to be lighter. Maybe we preload coping strategies early.

If someone is dysregulated every Monday, look beyond the day itself. What happens on Sundays? Are they dreading something? Overstimulated from a weekend event?

If food and hydration are issues, make eating easy and accessible. A ‘behaviour’ mid-morning might not be defiance—it might just be low blood sugar talking.

Reframing Behaviour Support

Instead of asking, "What set them off?"
Ask, "What made them more vulnerable to this today?"
Behaviour doesn’t happen in isolation. Neither should our support.