The programming concept involving using functions to abstract behavior is known as functional programming. This paradigm emphasizes the use of pure functions and avoids shared state or mutable data. By abstracting behavior into functions, developers can create modular and reusable code, making it easier to manage and understand complex systems. This approach enhances the ability to perform higher-order functions, where functions can be passed as arguments or returned from other functions. Consequently, functional programming leads to cleaner and more maintainable code structures while allowing for efficient algorithm implementation.