Antecedents to child behavior include the physical environment, such as the arrangement of desks in a classroom, and interactions with other people, such as a parent giving an instruction or making a request. When behavior that occurs in the presence of antecedent conditions is reinforced or punished, these conditions become a source of control. Referencing the preceding examples, children may be disruptive in the classroom if they sit at a desk in close proximity to other students who do not pay attention. Similarly, children may respond inappropriately when their parents present instructions that are unclear or stated harshly.

A first step toward antecedent management is verifying a predictable antecedent-behavior relationship. Consider a situation in which children..