Transtheoretical Model ( Stages of Change )
The Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change claims that behaviour change occurs in five stages and may be useful for thinking about how we go about persuading people to stop behaving in one way and start behaving in another 1 – arguably what we spend most of our time doing !
The first stage is ‘ pre-contemplation ’, where individuals are not intending to take action to change their behaviour – they are not even ‘ contemplating ’ it .
The second stage is ‘ contemplation ’, where individuals are considering change in the near future .
The third stage , ‘ preparation ’, involves individuals having a plan to change their behaviour and how that will be achieved .
The fourth stage is the stage at which individuals take ‘ action ’ to change their behaviour . Following this stage comes the fifth stage - the ‘ maintenance ’ stage , where behaviour change is cemented .
In our context , individuals may be encouraged ( through a variety of means ) to move from one stage to another through the provision of information or advice , the threat of sanctions or the offer of rewards , and be equipped with the tools and resource to implement any change that we inspire . We can also see ourselves as having a role in helping drivers to maintain any changes they make . One of this theory ’ s major contributions is , perhaps , in encouraging us to see change as a process rather than as an event . Individuals may move backwards and forwards between stages , and what works for someone in one phase may be irrelevant to someone at a different point in their journey ( see our Case Studies for examples of how this understanding can inform practice ). An accessible summary of this theory can be found below .
In addition to these theories , there are a range of other theories that may be used to inform road safety approaches , including the Reasoned Action Process Approach , the Differential Association Theory , the Health Action Approach and the Fogg Behaviour Model , amongst many others .
Many of our ‘ accessible academics ’ ( p146-154 ) are also experts in translating theories like these into practice .
1
Prochaska , J . O . and DiClemente , C . C ., 1986 . Toward a comprehensive model of change . In Treating addictive behaviors ( pp . 3-27 ). Springer , Boston , MA .
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