Which component of ABC represents the trigger before the behavior?

• A. Behavior
• B. Consequence
• C. Antecedent
• D. Motivation

Answer: (C)

Antecedents are events or conditions that occur before the behavior and act as triggers. In the ABC framework, what happens right before the behavior sets the occasion for it to occur—things like a demand, a cue, a change in environment, or a sensory input. Recognizing these triggers helps you adjust the setup to prevent the unwanted behavior or to support the desired one. After the behavior, the consequence follows and can reinforce or discourage that behavior, but it is not the trigger itself. For example, a loud noise and a task request occurring together may cue a child to act out; the response is the behavior, and what happens after (pacing, praise, removal of task) is the consequence. That’s why the trigger before the behavior is identified as the antecedent.