In behaviorism, a(n) ____ is what occurs after the behavior.

• A. consequence
• B. antecedent
• C. stimulus
• D. response

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key terms in behaviorism: 'antecedent' refers to what happens before a behavior, 'behavior' is the action itself, and 'consequence' is what happens after the behavior.
2. Recall that in operant conditioning, the sequence is Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence, where the consequence influences the likelihood of the behavior occurring again.
3. Identify that a 'stimulus' can be any event or object in the environment that influences behavior, but it is not specifically what occurs after the behavior.
4. Recognize that the term that fits the blank, describing what occurs after the behavior, is 'consequence'.
5. Therefore, the correct answer to fill in the blank is 'consequence', as it directly follows the behavior and affects future behavior.