What is the purpose of an antecedent intervention?

The purpose of an antecedent intervention is primarily to alter the environment before a targeted behavior occurs. This type of intervention focuses on modifying the conditions or stimuli that precede a behavior in order to prevent or reduce the likelihood of undesirable behaviors manifesting. By changing the antecedents, practitioners can create an environment that encourages positive behaviors and minimizes triggers that lead to negative behaviors.

Implementing antecedent interventions involves identifying specific situations, contexts, or cues that prompt the behavior and adjusting them accordingly. For example, if a child frequently exhibits aggressive behavior when competing for toys, an antecedent intervention might involve providing alternative toys or setting up situations where sharing and taking turns are reinforced. The goal is to proactively shape the environment so that the targeted behaviors are less likely to occur in the first place.

Reinforcement strategies that occur after the behavior has already taken place relate to different concepts such as consequence-based interventions, which are not the focus when considering antecedent interventions.