What three aspects must be considered before diagnosing a behavioral-emotional disorder?

The aspect that includes frequency, duration, and intensity of behaviors is crucial for diagnosing a behavioral-emotional disorder because these factors provide a quantitative measure of the behaviors that may indicate a disorder. Frequency refers to how often the behavior occurs, duration pertains to how long the behaviors persist, and intensity relates to the severity of the behaviors exhibited. Together, these elements help in distinguishing normal developmental variations from those that may be indicative of a disorder.

In evaluating behavioral-emotional disorders, it is essential to assess not only if a behavior exists but also how prevalent it is, how long it has affecting the individual's daily functioning, and how intense the behavior is compared to what might typically be expected for a given age and context. This focus helps clinicians and therapists make informed decisions regarding diagnosis, treatment planning, and interventions, making it a critical aspect of the assessment process.

While the other options introduce important considerations in various contexts—such as exploring psychological, social, and environmental factors, demographic characteristics, and educational or physical needs—they do not provide a systematic approach like the one found in assessing specific behaviors' characteristics, which is integral to accurately diagnosing behavioral-emotional disorders.