Lecture 7 Flashcards
What is the theory of planned behaviour?
We behave based on our attitude towards the behaviour
ex. If you think PA is good you are more likely to do
Behaviour is mainly affected by intention and actual behavioural control.
What is intention affected by?
Attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control
What are the 3 grounds of theory of planned behaviour?
- We behave based on attitude towards the behaviour – specifically our attitude towards the consequences of the behaviour and the experience of doing the behaviour
• we have to agree the behavior and like it - Subjective opinions of others matter and will influence our behaviour
• If other people also agree the behaviour is good and like doing it you are more likely to do it
• the subjective feelings of what others may think of you affects how you think of the behaviour and whether you will do it. - Our perceived control over the behaviour will contribute to whether we will do it
• self-efficacy if you feel confident you are more likely to do the behaviour you will do it
Who discovered the theory of planned behaviour? What is the main idea?
Founded by Icek Ajzen to try to give a more detailed description of how intentions inform behaviour
stronger intention the more likely they are to do the behaviour
we can strengthen people’s intention through changing their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control
very focused on intention
What is the first step of the theory of planned behaviour? What is the core of this theory?
First step in using this theory is to ensure we are clear on the behaviour it is we want to plan
you need to be clear about what behaviour you want to change, support or understand
Theory of planned behaviour…so the behaviour is PLANNED – this theory informs the intentions that lead to behaviour
this theory’s core is about planning it doesn’t work for spontaneous behaviour mostly because it is focused on intention to do the behavior
What is attitude informed by?
Instrumental beliefs = Your thoughts towards whether the behaviour and its consequences are good or bad
can be informed by several things in your life
Experiential (Affective) beliefs = Your thoughts towards whether the
experience of doing the behaviour will be good or bad
thoughts on whether doing the behaviour is actually good for you.
Is the behavior enjoyable?
What is the difference between experiential beliefs and instrumental beliefs?
Experiential beliefs refers to your thoughts towards the experience of actually doing the behaviour, whereas Instrumental beliefs are your beliefs towards the consequences being good or bad
What do subjective norms dictate?
Subjective norms are going to dictate behavioural intention – socially informed
Relates to the support given or not given by others for a behaviour.
What are your subjective norms influenced by?
Injunctive = what you think others think is right or acceptable and do they encourage you to do the behaviour (external validation)
Descriptive = you observing what other people are doing
ex. Studying because everyone around you is studying
What is a percieved behavioural control? What does it inform?
Perceived behavioural control is how much you THINK you can control the behaviour
Perceived control is informed by your self-efficacy (confidence) and thoughts around how much you control the situation
What is actual behavioural control?
sometimes you can be pretty confident but you don’t actually have control
takes into account what you skills you actually have
ex. If you have played basketball all your life, you believe you will picked for a scholarship but you actually don’t have control
What is a predictor of behavior? The strongest?
Intention is predictive of behaviour
Argued that actual behavioural control is potentially the strongest predictor of behaviour
What are external variables? 
External variables can affect all of these! Especially things we can’t change, like racism. You might have positive attitude to do PA but you do not have the fiscal means to engage in PA
How would you use the theory of planned behavior?
Understand intention – what strengthens it and what may weaken it
Can you then design an intervention to improve intention considering attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control
Ways to improve attitudes and control may be through – knowledge, skills training
Ways to improve subjective norms may be through group/family based interventions
ex. Interactions for children to more PA’ children’s intention to behave depends on the actions of their family
