When trying to figure out what’s causing a certain behavior and how we might go about modifying that behavior, we turn to the ABC’s of behavior modification to help guide us. By analyzing a specific group of variables surrounding a behavior, we can hone in on what may be causing the behavior to occur in the first place and what may be causing it to continue. This system can be used to analyze both behaviors that we want to occur and those that we don’t want.
Antecedents
To figure out what may be causing a behavior to occur in the first place, we look at the A’s—the antecedents. Antecedents are anything that comes before our target behavior and factors into the lead up to the behavior actually occurring. Antecedents can be wide ranging in scope, and may include factors such as how the animal is feeling on that particular day, the amount of exercise received earlier, diet, an unfamiliar stimulus in the environment, etc. These different antecedents are oftentimes highly individualized to the particular animal and their environment and must be considered on a case-to-case basis.
Behaviors
The B in the ABC is the target behavior itself. It’s the desired behavior of sitting or placing, for example, or the unwanted barking, scratching, etc. It is what we are either trying to reinforce (make more likely) or diminish (make less likely).
Consequences
What comes directly after the target behavior are the C’s—the consequences. The consequences of any behavior are what will either sustain that behavior or diminish it. Behaviors are sustained and strengthened by consequences that reinforce them. Receiving a treat is the consequence of sitting down when asked, and will make sitting down more likely when asked for again in the future. Conversely, receiving some sort of punishment after a behavior may make it less likely to occur again in the future. I emphasize “may” because sometimes excessive punishments can contribute to other (usually) undesirable behaviors, rather than solely diminishing the target behavior. Proceed with caution if you’re considering using punishment as your primary method to try and “solve” any behavior!
Ideally, a behavior could be modified by simply modifying one of the antecedents or consequences in a sort of one-to-one ratio; but ultimately, the A’s, B’s, and C’s of any behavior are fluid and usually playing out concurrently, so we need to analyze all of the variables together as a whole.
Get in touch with me if you think that your pet needs some behavior modification!
