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Entry · A1 of 5 in this letter group

ABC model

/eɪ biː siː ˈmɒd.əl/n.
Etymology
En.
A · B · C
“Antecedent · Behavior · Consequence”
Mod.
abc model
in current use

Coined in operant-conditioning literature, mid-20th c.

A behavioural-analytic framework: every action is bracketed by what triggers it and what reinforces it.

01Framework

The ABC model decomposes a behavioural episode into three sequential events: an Antecedent (the immediate stimulus or context), the Behavior itself, and the Consequence (the outcome that either reinforces or punishes recurrence). It is a workhorse of applied behaviour analysis and cognitive-behavioural therapy.

02Mechanism

Reinforcement strengthens the antecedent–behaviour association via dopaminergic prediction-error signalling in the basal ganglia; punishment weakens it. Repeated pairings sculpt habit circuits in the dorsolateral striatum, while goal-directed variants engage the prefrontal cortex.

03Clinical significance

Used to formulate treatment plans for ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and anxiety. A clinician might log an antecedent (a crowded room), behaviour (avoidance), and consequence (anxiety relief) to identify the reinforcement loop maintaining the symptom.

Further reading

  1. [1]
    Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and Human Behavior Macmillan.
  2. [2]
    Cooper, J. O. et al. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed.) Pearson.