Theory Database - Theory 82: Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change

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 82: Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change

Number of Constructs: 24
Number of Triples: 42

Theory triples

Precontemplation value of Stage of change
Contemplation value of Stage of change
Preparation value of Stage of change
Action value of Stage of change
Precontemplation contemplation transition has start Precontemplation
Precontemplation contemplation transition has end Contemplation
Contemplation preparation transition has start Contemplation
Preparation action transition has start Preparation
Action maintenance transition has start Action
Contemplation preparation transition has end Preparation
Preparation action transition has end Action
Action maintenance transition has end Maintenance
Decisional balance positively influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Decisional balance positively influences Contemplation preparation transition
Decisional balance positively influences Preparation action transition
Decisional balance positively influences Action maintenance transition
Self-efficacy positively influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Self-efficacy positively influences Contemplation preparation transition
Self-efficacy positively influences Preparation action transition
Self-efficacy positively influences Action maintenance transition
Temptation influences Self-efficacy temptation combination
Self-efficacy influences Self-efficacy temptation combination
Self-efficacy temptation combination influences Preparation action transition
Self-efficacy temptation combination influences Action maintenance transition
Consciousness-raising influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Dramatic relief/emotional arousal influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Self re-evaluation influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Self re-evaluation influences Contemplation preparation transition
Social liberation influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Environmental re-evaluation influences Precontemplation contemplation transition
Environmental re-evaluation influences Contemplation preparation transition
Self-liberation influences Preparation action transition
Stimulus control influences Preparation action transition
Stimulus control influences Action maintenance transition
Helping relationships influences Preparation action transition
Helping relationships influences Action maintenance transition
Counter-conditioning influences Preparation action transition
Counter-conditioning influences Action maintenance transition
Reinforcement management influences Action maintenance transition
Maintenance value of Stage of change
Self-liberation positively influences Contemplation preparation transition
Self-liberation positively influences Action maintenance transition

Theory constructs and annotations

Precontemplation Stage at which there is no serious consideration of behaviour change in the foreseeable future and during which one may be unaware of any need to / aware but unwilling to / defensive or resistant to / lack confidence in ability to change
Stage of change
Contemplation Stage at which there is awareness of a problem and at which one is seriously considering behaviour change within the next six months but is not yet committed to act [ BCIO:050493 (Undecidedness about enacting a behaviour) 82 44 59 ]
Preparation Stage at which one is ready for action and seriously intending to change within the next month [ BCIO:050683 (Intention to enact a behaviour) 82 44 3 ]
Action Stage at which there is significant effort to change behaviour and where one has met a behaviour-specific criterion [ BCIO:050477 (Having enacted a behaviour) 82 44 59 ]
Precontemplation contemplation transition
Contemplation preparation transition
Preparation action transition
Action maintenance transition
Maintenance Stage at which behaviour change has been sustained for more than six months and there is work to prevent relapse [ BCIO:050805 (Behaviour pattern maintenance) 82 26 59 44 29 ]
Decisional balance The process through which the pros and cons of behaviour change are evaluated [ BCIO:050854 (Decisional balance process about changing behaviour) 82 ]
Self-efficacy One’s beliefs about one’s ability to carry out a behaviour in any given situation [ BCIO:006154 (Self-efficacy belief for a behaviour) 82 56 54 66 14 60 81 73 16 17 4 57 42 80 78 ]
Temptation A desire, or stimulus that creates a desire, to carry out the problem behaviour(s) [ MF:0000045 (Wanting) 82 1 69 22 ]
Self-efficacy temptation combination
Consciousness-raising The process of increasing awareness about the problem and improving the accuracy of information processing about the problem and about the self [ BCIO:050874 (self-awareness process in relation to a problem) 82 ]
Dramatic relief/emotional arousal The process of experiencing and releasing feelings about the problem and the solution
Self re-evaluation The process of cognitively and affectively assessing one's self-image in relation to the problem behaviour [ BCIO:050875 (Self-identity appraisal informed by one’s behaviour) 82 ]
Social liberation The process of noticing social, policy or environmental changes that facilitate health behaviour change
Environmental re-evaluation The process of cognitively and affectively assessing the ways in which a personal behaviour might have an impact on the social environment
Self-liberation The process through which one comes to believe in one’s ability to change a particular behaviour and one’s commitment to act on that belief [ BCIO:006154 (self-efficacy belief for a behaviour) 82 56 54 66 14 60 81 73 16 17 4 57 42 80 78 ]
Stimulus control The process through which the environment is restructured (e.g. by the individual) such that cues for problem behaviours are reduced and cues for healthier behaviours increased [ BCIO:050811 (Cue management behaviour) 82 19 ]
Helping relationships Relationships characterised by openness, trust and empathy, which are supportive with regard to the problem behaviour and health behaviour change [ BCIO:006090 (social behavioural opportunity) 82 32 69 8 60 83 39 34 3 10 ]
Counter-conditioning The process of adopting healthier behaviours as substitutes for problem behaviours [ BCIO:050846 (Behavioural substitution) 82 ]
Reinforcement management The process of rewarding oneself, or being rewarded by others, for making changes; contingency contracts, overt and covert reinforcement, self-reward

Theory illustration

Theory References

Prochaska, J.O. & DiClemente, C.C. (1982). Transtheoretical therapy: Toward a more integrative model of change. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 19(3), 276-288.
Prochaska, J.O., DiClemente, C.C., & Norcross, J.C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviour. American Psychologist, 47, 1102-1114.
Prochaska, J. O., Redding, C.A., Harlow, L.L., Rossi, J.S. & Velicer, W.F. (1994). The Transtheoretical Model of Change and HIV Prevention: A Review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 21, 471-486.

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