Content
Discussion
The Transtheoretical
(Stages of Change) Theory
This theory
was developed to explain the different stages of change which
appear to be most common for the majority of behaviour change processes.
Based on the assumptions that behaviour change is an ongoing process,
not an event, and that individuals have varying levels of motivation
or readiness to change, the theory identifies five stages of change:
pre-contemplation (“ignorance is bliss”): the
stage describing individuals who are not considering changing
their behaviours, or are consciously intending not to change;
contemplation
(“sitting on the fence”): the stage at which a person
considers making a change to a specific behaviour;
preparation
(“testing the waters”): the stage at which a person
makes a serious commitment to change and begins to make the necessary
preparations to do so;
action (“go
for it”): the stage at which a change is initiated; and
maintenance
(“steady as she goes”): sustaining the change over
time.
People appear
to move through these stages in a predictable way, although some
move more quickly than others. The theory is circular rather than
linear, as people can enter or exit at any point, and it applies
equally to individuals who ‘self-initiate’ a change and
those responding to advice and encouragement to change.
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