Theory Database - Theory 79: Theory of Planned Behaviour

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 79: Theory of Planned Behaviour

Number of Constructs: 18
Number of Triples: 25

Theory triples

Subjective norms positively influences Intention
Attitude to the behaviour positively influences Intention
Perceived behavioural control positively influences Intention
Attitude to the behaviour influences Subjective norms
Subjective norms influences Attitude to the behaviour
Subjective norms influences the 'Perceived behavioural control' to 'Subjective norms' Influences relationship
Perceived behavioural control influences Subjective norms
Attitude to the behaviour influences Perceived behavioural control
Perceived behavioural control influences Attitude to the behaviour
Intention positively influences Behaviour
Perceived behavioural control positively influences the 'Intention' to 'Behaviour' Positively influences relationship
Outcome evaluation influences (*) Behavioural belief
Behavioural belief strength influences (*) Behavioural belief
Behavioural belief influences (+) Behavioural belief composite
Behavioural belief composite positively influences Attitude to the behaviour
Normative beliefs composite positively influences Subjective norms
Control beliefs compoosite positively influences Perceived behavioural control
Motivation to comply influences (*) Normative belief
Normative belief strength influences (*) Normative belief
Normative belief influences (+) Normative beliefs composite
Power of control factor influences (*) Control belief
Control belief strength influences (*) Control belief
Control belief influences (+) Control beliefs compoosite
Actual behavioural control positively influences Perceived behavioural control
Actual behavioural control positively influences the 'Intention' to 'Behaviour' Positively influences relationship

Theory constructs and annotations

Subjective norms The perceived social pressure to perform or not to perform the behaviour [ BCIO:006041 (perceived evaluative behavioural norm) 79 66 78 28 18 ]
Intention The cognitive representation of one's readiness to perform the behaviour; considered to be the immediate antecedent of behaviour [ BCIO:006016 (Behavioural intention) 79 1 66 14 59 73 72 23 77 69 52 81 74 80 3 24 18 ]
Attitude to the behaviour Favourable or unfavourable evaluation or appraisal of the behaviour
Perceived behavioural control The perceived ability to perform the behaviour [ BCIO:006152 (Belief about control over behaviour) 79 80 58 41 81 ]
Behaviour The manifest, observable response in a given situation with respect to a given target. [ BCIO:036000 (Individual human behaviour) 79 70 8 5 14 62 63 64 78 81 65 77 13 55 74 24 18 53 54 57 69 71 ]
Outcome evaluation
Behavioural belief Beliefs about the likely outcomes or other attributes (e.g. cost) of the behaviour; assumed to determine attitude [ BCIO:006019 (Belief about consequences of behaviour) 79 74 32 55 1 80 ]
Behavioural belief strength
Behavioural belief composite
Normative beliefs composite
Control beliefs compoosite
Motivation to comply The extent to which one cares about the approval or disapproval of referent individuals or groups [ BCIO:006059 (Willingness to comply) 79 1 3 66 80 72 ]
Normative belief Beliefs about the likelihood that important referent individuals or groups approve or disapprove of performing the behaviour; assumed to determine subjective norm [ BCIO:006042 (Normative belief) 79 73 35 81 1 3 14 ]
Normative belief strength
Power of control factor
Control belief Beliefs about the presence or absence of factors that can facilitate or impede performance of the behaviour; assumed to determine perceived behavioural control [ BCIO:006017 (Belief about barriers to a behaviour) 79 , BCIO:050591 (Belief about enablers of a behaviour) 79 23 27 73 72 ]
Control belief strength
Actual behavioural control [ MF:0000043 (Personal capability) 79 , BCIO:006086 (Behavioural opportunity) 79 73 25 1 32 11 4 67 57 60 65 59 8 74 63 66 41 5 77 56 9 12 ]

Theory illustration

Theory References

Ajzen, I. (1985). From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behaviour. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckman (Eds.). Action Control: From Cognition to Behaviour (pp. 11-39). Germany: Springer-Verlag.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behaviour. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211.

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