Intention-Behaviour gap Flashcards
Behavioural intentions
Assumed to capture the motivational factors that influence a behaviour and to indicate how hard people are willing to try, or how much effort they would exert to perform a behaviour (Ajzen, 1991)
Problems with correlational studies
Something else could influence intentions > if you don’t measure that then you may measure 3rd variable
- Could be reflecting on past behaviour/could be driving your behaviour
Third variable problem
“we can never be sure that our thoughts cause our actions, as there could always be unconscious causes that have produced them both” (Wegner & Wheatley
Brubaker & Fowler (1990)
Testicular cancer
Delivered a persuasive message that either explained the message or didn’t
Asked whether they intend to and then followed up and asked if they did
The men that received the explaining messages had stronger intentions
Webb & Sheeran (2006)
Meta analysis
Evidence that in the studies selected were selected because they were able to change peoples intentions
If intentions cause behaviour then the effect size should be the same but its not (Intention = 0.66 and behaviours = 0.36)
The intention behaviour gap
Its not that intentions don’t translate into their behaviour it is just that many instances people struggle to translate their intention into behaviour
Sheeran (2002) ; Sheeran & Webb (2016)
Why do people fail to act on their intentions
Intention viability
- It is impossible for some decisions to find expression in the absence of particular abilities, resources or opportunities
- Counter-intentional habits (intentions have smaller effects on behaviours performed frequently in similar situations)
- Lack of resources (outside personal control, need a supportive environment)
Intention activation
- The extent to which contextual demands alter the salience, direction or intensity of a focal intention relative to other intention
Intention elaboration
- People fail to elaborate in sufficient detail how to go about performing the intended action
Action planning
The process of linking goal-directed behaviours to certain environmental cues by specifying when, where and how to act (Sniehotta et al, 2005)
Coping planning
Involves identifying barriers that might derail intended actions and forming plans to manage or overcome them
The mental simulation of overcoming anticipated barriers to action
The health Action Process Approach
Schwarzer (2008)
Intentions are the starting point to action
If you want to do something you are more likely to plan to do it
Rubicon Model of Action Phases (Heckhausen, 1991)
1) Predicational phase
- People deliberate over which goal to pursue and then form an intention
2) Preactional phase
- People decide when, where and how to act
3) Action phase
- Behaviour is initiated and maintained if necessary
4) Postactional phase
- Outcome is evaluated against what was desired
Implementation intention (Gollwitzer, 1993/1996/199)
If situation Y arises, then i will initiate behaviour Z
If component identifies a good opportunity to act then component identifies an effective goal directed response
What’s the difference between implementation intentions different to action and coping plans
II take a contingent if then format
II are a subtype of action/coping plan
