Prochaska's Model of Behaviour Change

Question 1

Assumptions of Prochaska’s model

Answer 1

• Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) found that a smoker’s behaviour changes through a series pf stages in their attempt to quit
• Prochaska proposed a 6 stage model, which recognised that overcoming addiction was a complex process than isn’t quick or linear
• the process is more cyclical, with some people missing steps or going back
• there are 2 major insights about behavioural change which form the basis of this model
  1. people who are addicted differ in how they change and quit
  2. the usefulness of treatment is dependent on the stage that a person is in

Question 2

Six stages of behaviour change

Answer 2

• pre-contemplation
• contemplation
• preparation
• action
• maintenance
• termination

Question 3

Precontemplation

Answer 3

• addicts in this stage aren’t considering changing there behaviour anytime soon
• this could be because there are in a state of denial or are demotivated by previous quitting failures
• intervention in this stage needs to focus on helping the person realise that they have a problem

Question 4

Contemplation

Answer 4

• people in this stage are more aware that they need to change, so consider the pros and cons of it
• a person may stay in this stage for quite some time
• intention should try to help the person see the positives in quiting and how they outweigh the negatives

Question 5

Preparation

Answer 5

• in this stage the addict has decided that they need to change, but they don’t have a plan as to how this can be done
• intervention show try to help the client decide on what support they will ness to quit the addiction

Question 6

Action

Answer 6

• the addict changes their behaviour in this stage, such as by getting rid of all tobacco products if a smoker
• relapse may happen in this stage due to withdrawal syndrome
• therefore, intervention should provide support with practical help, such as a rewards system

Question 7

Maintenance

Answer 7

• an addict in this stage has maintained their abstinence for 6 months, and they are growing confident that the change is permanent
• intervention should focus on helping them maintain the abstinence and preventing relapse

Question 8

Termination

Answer 8

• this is the final stage, in which change is stable and permanent
• abstinence is automatic and there will be no relapse
• addicts may take years to reach this stage or may never

Question 9

(+) EVAL - application and understanding

Answer 9

• Prochaska’s model looks at change as a series of stages, which means that interventions can be designed to match the stage that the individual is currently in, as opposed to a universal approach
• the model has led to measures being developed which allow individuals to be classified by which stage they are in
• therefore, it has a practical application, and it means that appropriate interventions can be administered, dependent on the stage that an individual is in
• the study also has a realistic view of addiction in comparison to some other approaches
• it sees relapse as an inevitable part of the process, which helps with self-efficacy

Question 10

(-) EVAL - blurry stages

Answer 10

• the different between the stages in Prochaska’s model is quite blurry, illustrated by the suggested gap between the contemplation and preparation stage
• it states that if a person is quitting the next month, they are in the preparation stage, but if quitting in the next 5 weeks, they are in the contemplation stage
• overall, the stages are vague
• some researchers question whether the two stages are actually separate entities, suggesting that they make up a stage together

Question 11

(-) EVAL - criticism of the model

Answer 11

• there is a lot of criticism in relation to the model
• David (2006) and Cahill (2012) both believe that interventions based on the model are no more successful than any other approach to combatting addiction