What is another name for the three-term contingency in behavior analysis?

The three-term contingency in behavior analysis is often described as the relationship between an antecedent (A), behavior (B), and consequence (C), which is succinctly referred to as the A-B-C's of behavior. This framework illustrates how environmental events (antecedents) can trigger specific behaviors, which in turn are followed by consequences that can either reinforce or punish those behaviors. Understanding this model is fundamental in applied behavior analysis as it helps practitioners analyze and modify behavior by manipulating the antecedent and consequence variables.

Other terms like "Stimulus-response-consequence" are used in behavior analysis but do not capture the full essence of the three-term contingency in the way that the A-B-C structure does. The "Behavioral feedback loop" phrase, while it suggests a cyclical nature of behavior and its effects, does not precisely define the components of the three-term contingency. Similarly, "Act-Behavior-Consequence" misrepresents the terminology, as the term “act” does not align with the conventional antecedent definition in this context. Thus, the A-B-C's of behavior accurately reflects the established framework of the three-term contingency.