In the ABC model, what does B stand for?

• A. Belief
• B. Activating event
• C. Consequence
• D. Disputation

Answer: (A)

Belief is what the B stands for in this model. After an activating event occurs, the next step is the belief or interpretation you apply to that event. This cognitive appraisal—whether you see it as a threat, a failure, or a normal challenge—links the event to your emotional and behavioral response. Because Belief is the mediator between the event and the outcome, changing how you interpret the event can change how you feel and act. The activating event is the trigger, and the consequence is the emotional/behavioral result you experience. Disputation is a technique used to challenge beliefs, and in extended versions you might see D for disputation and E for effect, but the label for B itself is Belief.