Theory Database - Theory 1: Action Theory Model of Consumption

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 1: Action Theory Model of Consumption

Number of Constructs: 32
Number of Triples: 63

Theory triples

Somatic marker processes influences Anticipated emotions
Anticipated emotions influences Desire
Perceived behavioural control influences Desire
Implementation intentions positively influences Trying
Goal attainment / failure influences Feedback
Goal intention positively influences Desire
Subjective norms influences Desire
Attitudes influences Desire
Trying positively influences Performance of goal-directed behaviours
Perceived behavioural control positively influences Performance of goal-directed behaviours
Perceived behavioural control positively influences Trying
Desire influences Implementation intentions
Feedback influences Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Frequency of past behaviour influences Desire
Moral imperatives influences Desire
Social identity processes influences Desire
Social identity processes influences Implementation intentions
Low influences Implementation intentions
Performance of goal-directed behaviours influences Goal attainment / failure
Situational Forces influences the 'Performance of goal-directed behaviours' to 'Goal attainment / failure' Influences relationship
Recency of past behaviour positively influences Performance of goal-directed behaviours
High influences Performance of goal-directed behaviours
Perceived behavioural control influences Implementation intentions
Self-conscious emotions influences the 'Implementation intentions' to 'Trying' Positively influences relationship
Moral emotions influences the 'Implementation intentions' to 'Trying' Positively influences relationship
Virtues, values, other individual differences influences the 'Implementation intentions' to 'Trying' Positively influences relationship
Empathy influences the 'Implementation intentions' to 'Trying' Positively influences relationship
Social and personal identity influences the 'Implementation intentions' to 'Trying' Positively influences relationship
Social and personal identity influences the 'Desire' to 'Implementation intentions' Influences relationship
Empathy influences the 'Desire' to 'Implementation intentions' Influences relationship
Virtues, values, other individual differences influences the 'Desire' to 'Implementation intentions' Influences relationship
Moral emotions influences the 'Desire' to 'Implementation intentions' Influences relationship
Self-conscious emotions influences the 'Desire' to 'Implementation intentions' Influences relationship
Desirability influences (*) Goal intention
Feasibility of goals influences (*) Goal intention
Previous emotional experiences with behaviour part of Somatic marker processes
Normative beliefs influences (*) Subjective norms
Motivation to comply influences (*) Subjective norms
Beliefs influences (*) Attitudes
Beliefs influences (*) Subjective norms
Evaluations influences (*) Attitudes
Evaluations influences (*) Subjective norms
Subjective norms part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Anticipated emotions part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Social identity processes part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Somatic marker processes part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Goal intention part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Attitudes part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Perceived behavioural control part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Desire part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Frequency of past behaviour part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Moral imperatives part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Implementation intentions part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Trying part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Recency of past behaviour part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Desirability part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Feasibility of goals part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Normative beliefs part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Motivation to comply part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Beliefs part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Evaluations part of Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
High part of Frequency of past behaviour
Low part of Frequency of past behaviour

Theory constructs and annotations

Somatic marker processes Non-conscious preference biases arising from previous emotional experiences associated with relevant behaviours [ BCIO:050564 (Affective attitude acquired through association) 1 ]
Anticipated emotions Expectations of emotional consequences of achieving and not achieving a goal [ BCIO:050590 (Belief about emotional consequences of goal attainment) 1 ]
Desire A feeling of want or need [ MF:0000045 (Wanting) 1 , BCIO:006075 (Subjective need) 1 82 69 22 5 ]
Perceived behavioural control Beliefs about one's ability to carry out a behaviour, and the possible outcomes of that behaviour [ BCIO:006034 (Belief about voluntariness of behaviour) 1 , MFOEM:000075 (Appraisal of causal agency) 1 80 ]
Implementation intentions A commitment to act that includes particular memory processes and specific execution rules; Has two forms: a contingent one focusing on a specific event happening and a forthcoming response (e.g., I will do X, if event Y occurs), and a planning one (i.e. one decides where, when, and how to act so as to achieve a goal) [ BCIO:006016 (Behavioural intention) 1 66 14 59 73 72 23 77 69 52 81 74 79 80 3 24 18 ]
Trying A sub-type of action involving cognitive, affective and physical processes that join sequentially, interactively or in parallel to cause the bodily movements making up goal-directed behaviours [ BCIO:006096 (Goal pursuit process) 1 17 53 3 10 ]
Goal attainment / failure Achievement of or failure to achieve a goal
Feedback Information provided to a person or group regarding behaviour or performance (relating to goal attainment or failure; e.g. in the form of satisfaction/dissatisfaction) [ BCIO:007023 (Provide feedback on behaviour BCT) 1 ]
Goal intention A consciously made decision to pursue a desired end state [ BCIO:006016 (Behavioural intention) 1 66 14 59 73 72 23 77 69 52 81 74 79 80 3 24 18 ]
Subjective norms The belief that significant others believe one should buy a particular product or not, includes perceived normative beliefs of others and one's felt need to comply with the expectations of others [ BCIO:006042 (Normative belief) 1 , BCIO:006059 (Willingness to comply) 1 3 79 66 73 35 81 80 72 14 ]
Attitudes Psychological tendencies that capture one's appraisal of a product, service or action judged to be instrumental in goal attainment [ BCIO:050328 (Attitude) 1 72 4 80 2 29 64 35 ]
Performance of goal-directed behaviours The performance of behaviours that result, under the right conditions, in goal achievement [ BCIO:050818 (Goal-directed behaviour) 1 53 ]
Antecedents of goal-directed behaviour
Frequency of past behaviour The frequency with which a behaviour has been performed in the past [ BCIO:050817 (Frequency of past behaviour) 1 ]
Moral imperatives Actions that are necessary because they are the 'right thing' to do in a moral sense [ BCIO:006063 (Personal value) 1 42 83 69 75 ]
Social identity processes Methods of processing information based on the awareness of one's place in a group, emotional attachment to the group, and the value placed on being a member of that group [ BCIO:050775 (Social identity process) 1 ]
Low
Situational Forces Environmental forces that can either prevent or facilitate goal attainment [ BCIO:006086 (Opportunity) 1 73 25 32 11 4 60 67 65 59 8 74 66 41 5 77 56 9 12 79 ]
Recency of past behaviour The recency of the last performance of the behaviour
High
Self-conscious emotions [ MFOEM:000001 (Emotional process) 1 ]
Moral emotions [ MFOEM:000001 (Emotional process) 1 ]
Virtues, values, other individual differences [ MF:0000203 (personality trait) 1 49 ]
Empathy [ MF:0000203 (personality trait) 1 49 ]
Social and personal identity [ BCIO:006051 (Social identity) 1 , ADDICTO:0000381 (identity) 1 ]
Desirability An assessment of the relative appeal of a variety of goals [ BCIO:050617 (comparative desirability appraisal) 1 ]
Feasibility of goals An assessment of the relative practicality of a variety of goals [ BCIO:050592 (belief about goal attainment) 1 ]
Previous emotional experiences with behaviour [ MFOEM:000001 (emotion process) 1 ]
Normative beliefs Perceptions of referent others' beliefs regarding whether or not one should perform a behaviour [ BCIO:006042 (Normative belief) 1 79 73 35 81 3 14 ]
Motivation to comply A felt need to comply with the expectations of others [ BCIO:006059 (Willingness to comply) 1 3 66 80 79 72 ]
Beliefs the characteristics of a product or service, or of the consequences of engaging in a behaviour [ MF:0000041 (belief) 1 , BCIO:006019 (Belief about consequences of behaviour) 1 72 33 74 79 32 34 73 55 80 14 28 30 31 35 42 54 67 ]
Evaluations Evaluations of the characteristics of a product or service, or of the consequences of engaging in a behaviour [ BCIO:006038 (Evaluative belief) 1 , BCIO:006148 (Evaluative belief about the consequences of a behaviour) 1 77 42 39 66 80 53 64 55 35 74 12 14 79 ]

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Bagozzi, R.P. (2000). The Poverty of Economic Explanations of consumption and an Action Theory Alternative. Managerial and Decision Economics, 21, 95-109.

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