In AppliedApplied means that the behaviors targeted for change in ABA... BehaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living organ... Analysis (ABA), ABC stands for Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence. This is a three-part model used to understand the relationship between a behavior and the environment, helping practitioners analyze why a behavior occurs and how it can be influenced or changed.
- AntecedentAn Antecedent in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) refers to a... (A): The event or environment that occurs before the behavior. This could be a situation, instruction, or any change in the environment that triggers the behavior.
- Behavior (B): The observable and measurable action that the individual engages in.
- Consequence (C): The event that happens immediately after the behavior, which affects the likelihood of the behavior occurring again in the future. Consequences can be reinforcing (increasing behavior) or punishing (decreasing behavior).
Example:
- Antecedent: A teacher asks a student to complete a math problem.
- Behavior: The student throws the worksheet on the floor.
- Consequence: The teacher removes the worksheet and lets the student take a break.
In this scenario, the consequence (removing the worksheet) may reinforce the behavior of throwing the worksheet, meaning the student may throw it again in the future to avoid completing the task.
ABC analysis helps practitioners identify patterns of behavior and develop interventions to either increase desirable behaviors or reduce challenging behaviors.