Final answer:
The concept presented suggests that antecedents form a behavior without necessarily depending on its consequences. This is in contrast to the law of effect, and ties into non-consequentialist theories and cognitive decoupling, highlighting our capability of abstract thinking beyond immediate outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that antecedents do not rely on the consequences of behavior for developing evocative and abative effects can be understood in light of several psychological principles. An antecedent, in behavioral psychology, is an event or environment that precedes a behavior. This notion contrasts with the law of effect, which suggests that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are likely to be repeated, while those with unfavorable consequences are not. In a non-consequentialist view, the intrinsic properties of the action itself, rather than the outcomes, dictate the value or morality of an action. Therefore, an antecedent may set the stage for behavior without having a direct relationship with its consequences or the resulting evocative (increasing a behavior) or abative (decreasing a behavior) effects. Cognitive decoupling, another key concept, supports the idea that our understanding of behavior and the environment does not solely rely on present outcomes but also on abstract thinking and past experiences.