Which technique modifies environmental triggers to reduce unwanted behavior?

• A. Stimulus control
• B. Goal setting
• C. Positive reinforcement
• D. Time management

Answer: (A)

Stimulus control focuses on changing the cues and settings that trigger a behavior. By altering the environmental triggers, you make the unwanted behavior less likely to occur and the desired behavior more likely to happen. This is about shaping the antecedents—the stimuli that precede the action—so the environment nudges you toward the right pattern. For example, removing distracting apps or placing study materials in a dedicated, quiet workspace creates cues that promote studying rather than procrastinating.

Other techniques don’t directly modify environmental triggers: goal setting is about defining targets to aim for, positive reinforcement adds a reward to strengthen a behavior, and time management is about planning how you use your hours. None of these change the surrounding cues that provoke the behavior, which is why stimulus control is the best fit for modifying environmental triggers.