ABCs of Behavior Management

The "ABC" technique of behavior management involves looking at the antecedent, behavior and consequences of an action. In doing so, you can determine what caused the behavior and what the behavior, in turn, caused, allowing you to better understand and manage the behavior itself.

  1. Antecedent

    • The antecedent portion of the ABC model of behavior management refers to the event or activity that result in the behavior being studied. This antecedent activity or event is thought to trigger the behavior, whether positive or negative, and allows us to see how we can encourage good behavior and discourage negative behavior. An example of an antecedent event is a teacher calling on a student to read a passage from a book aloud.

    Behavior

    • The behavior portion of the ABC model of behavior management is the behavior being observed and dissected. The behavior is a direct result of the antecedent activity or event that directly preceded it and can only be understood in the context of the antecedent activity or event. Continuing the example presented in the earlier section, the student refusing to read the book aloud is the behavior that is a result of the antecedent event.

    Consequences

    • The consequences portion of the ABC model represents the consequences that are a result of the observed behavior, and is the key component to managing behaviors. Depending on the consequences of the behavior, the behavior itself will either be reinforced or altered. Taking the example presented even further, the teacher allowing the student to refuse to read from the book as a "consequence" reinforces the student's undesirable behavior.

    How to Use the ABC Model

    • In order to alter a child's negative behavior, you must look at the antecedent to that behavior and consequences that result. Alter the antecedent activity or event in an attempt to alter the resulting behavior and provide consequences that reinforce positive behavior. For the example given, the teacher can ask the students to volunteer to read and reward the students that volunteer with the "consequence" of a small amount of extra credit. Avoid antecedent events that result in undesirable behavior and discourage undesirable behavior by coupling it with undesirable consequences.

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