To successfully decrease unwanted behaviors and teach substitute behaviors, we must know more about each behavior. This is when we look at the ABC’s. What are ABC’s? A is the Antecedent and describes what happens right before the behavior. B is the Behavior itself. C is the Consequence and describes what happens right after the behavior.
Knowing the Antecedents, Behaviors, and Consequences helps us to understand why a behavior may be happening and how events following the behavior may affect whether the behavior is likely to happen again.