What to do before and after telling your child with autism “No”

Antecedent

Antecedent

An antecedent is what occurs before a behavior. It is crucial to be specific and accurate in identifying the antecedent. The ABC Model of Behavior consists of the antecedent, behavior, and consequence. The antecedent is represented by ‘A’ in the ABC model. The behavior is denoted by ‘B’ and the consequence by ‘C’.

The antecedent is the event or stimulus that triggers a behavior. It can be environmental (such as a noise in the classroom or an object on the desk), social/interpersonal (such as being given a task by someone else), or internal (such as feeling anxious). Antecedents can also involve instruction, such as being asked to do something or having choices offered. We can’t talk just about antecedents without talking about the ABC Model of Behavior.

What is the ABC Model of Behavior?

Behavior analysis is the scientific study of behaviors and why they occur. It is based on behaviorism and the idea that behaviors are the result of conditioning. Different factors can influence behaviors, such as environmental triggers or a cue from another person that sets off the behavior. The ABC Model is a tool used in behavior analysis and is used by ABA therapists to aid in helping those with autism adapt and be comfortable within the environment in which they live. The ABC Model stands for Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence. This model helps to examine triggers that cause desired or undesired behaviors, the behaviors themselves, and their impact on individuals or their surroundings.

How does ABA therapy address the antecedent?

The antecedent in the ABC Model is a tool used to facilitate the examination of the triggers behind a behavior. It is a key component in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and helps practitioners break down behaviors into smaller elements. By examining what happened before an event, practitioners can better understand why a behavior occurred and develop plans for addressing it.

Some examples of antecedents are:

  • Environmental (noise, temperature, lighting): A student hears the school bell ring
  • Social Interaction: The stewardess is presented with an airline ticket from a passenger before boarding
  • Internal (anxiety): A student’s normal schedule becomes disrupted

Applying the ABC Model of Behavior

To apply the ABC Model effectively, you need to establish a clear pattern of antecedent, behavior, and consequence. Focus on identifying one specific behavior for analysis at a time. Observe a re-occurring behavior in various scenarios to truly grasp its pattern and the why behind the behavior. Remember, people can behave differently in different situations. To create an effective behavioral intervention plan, you must fully understand the behavior and identify all related antecedents, which may be multiple in some cases.

Start by formulating questions with when, where, what, and who to get a better understanding of the antecedent. When answering these types of questions (shown below), you will start to notice a pattern, and from the pattern, you can start redirecting the problem behavior.

Example questions:

  • At what time does the problem behavior typically happen?
  • Where is the problem behavior typically observed?
  • Who is present during the occurrence of the problem behavior?
  • What activities or events come before the problem behavior happens?
  • What are the actions or comments made by others right before the problem behavior occurs?
  • Does the child exhibit any other behaviors before the problem behavior?
  • In which situations is the problem behavior least likely to occur, and with whom, when, and where?

The Benefits of ABC Model:

  • It is easy to understand and apply.
  • It helps us understand how behavior is formed and where we can intervene.
  • It is also a simple framework to help communicate behavior to others who were not present during the behavior.

The Limitations of ABC Model:

  • It requires multiple observations of the behavior.
  • Repeated observations may not be safe or feasible.
  • Time may be wasted if the behavior doesn’t happen often.
  • The observations are correlational, so causality can’t be determined.
  • Many variables and antecedents can affect the behavior.
  • It’s hard to isolate a single reason for the behavior.

Three strategies for manipulating antecedents to promote a desired behavior are:

  1. Provide the necessary cues for the desired behavior within the child’s surroundings.
  2. Create an environment that makes it more beneficial for the child to engage in the desired behavior.
  3. To make it easier for the child to engage in the desired behavior, reduce the physical effort required.

Antecedents are a helpful way to understand and dissect behaviors. Without considering the antecedent that caused a behavior to occur, you cannot begin to change the behavior to a more desired one or stop the behavior from occurring altogether.

Let LeafWing Center help identify the antecedent that triggers undesirable behavior. Request a behavior consultation today!

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