Use getStyle() with behaviors defined in MXML
<?xml version="1.0"?> <mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"> <mx:WipeLeft id="slowWipe" duration="5000" /> <mx:Button id="myB" mouseDownEffect="{slowWipe}" /> <mx:Button label="get style" click="myTA.text=String(myB.getStyle('mouseDownEffect').duration);" /> <mx:TextArea id="myTA" /> </mx:Application>