A-B-C stands for which sequence?

A-B-C stands for which sequence?

• A. Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence
• B. Stimulus-Response-Stimulus
• C. Stimulus-Behavior-Consequence
• D. Antecedent-Response-Consequence

Answer: (A)

In behavior analysis, the ABC sequence captures what triggers a behavior, the behavior itself, and what follows that shapes future behavior. The Antecedent is anything in the environment that signals or sets up the opportunity for the behavior to occur. The Behavior is the observable action the individual performs. The Consequence is what happens after the behavior—reinforcement, punishment, or neutral outcomes—that influences whether the behavior is likely to happen again. This framing makes sense because it ties the trigger, the action, and the result together to explain and predict behavior over time. The other options don’t fit as neatly: using Stimulus-Response-Stimulus describes a different loop found in classical conditioning; replacing Antecedent with Stimulus changes the terminology from the setup cue to a more limited word; and swapping Behavior for Response is just a wording difference, while the standard and widely used term in this context is Behavior.

In behavior analysis, the ABC sequence captures what triggers a behavior, the behavior itself, and what follows that shapes future behavior. The Antecedent is anything in the environment that signals or sets up the opportunity for the behavior to occur. The Behavior is the observable action the individual performs. The Consequence is what happens after the behavior—reinforcement, punishment, or neutral outcomes—that influences whether the behavior is likely to happen again. This framing makes sense because it ties the trigger, the action, and the result together to explain and predict behavior over time. The other options don’t fit as neatly: using Stimulus-Response-Stimulus describes a different loop found in classical conditioning; replacing Antecedent with Stimulus changes the terminology from the setup cue to a more limited word; and swapping Behavior for Response is just a wording difference, while the standard and widely used term in this context is Behavior.