Theory of Planned Behaviour Flashcards
What is intention a function of?
Behaviour attitude
Subjective norms
Perceived behavioural control
Behaviour attitude (General)
Personal view of how desirable a behaviour is
What is TPB
Cognitive theory about the factors that lead to a person’s decision to engage in a particular behaviour
An indi’s decision to engage in a particular behaviour can be directly predicted by their intention to engage in that behaviour
Subjective norms (General)
Social norms – i.e. their belief of what others think is ‘right’ + what others are doing
Perceived behavioural control (General)
The more control they think they have, the stronger their intention… AND the harder they will try/persevere for
Most important predictor of ultimate BEHAVIOUR
TPB as model for addiction prevention
A framework for explaining the processes that lead to both addiction and cessation
Used to develop programmes to bring long-lasting changes in addiction behaviour
Changing behavioural attitude (Addiction)
US launched a campaign to lower teenage Marijuana use = effectiveness of campaign down to influence on attitudes
Tried to create a different attitude toward effect of use e.g. inconsistent with being autonomous + achieving aspirations = key to success
Changing subjective norms (Addiction)
Giving adolescents actual data of amount that engage in risky behaviour
Those who engage in behaviour = usually in social group that do = think most people do too
Exposing to fact that most don’t in accurate stat data = should correct subjective norms
Perceived behavioural control (Addiction)
Research: Perceived behavioural control = most important predictor of ultimate behaviour
Prevention programmes should help addicts focus on the willpower required to give up addiction + alert addicts to the effort required to modify behaviour
Self-efficacy
Important in aspects in addiction prevention
Research: encouraging an addict’s belief in their ability to abstain was related to optimism + ultimately a +ve outcome
Concluded enhancing self-efficacy should form a primary goal of treatment plans
Too rational
Fails to take into account emotions, compulsions or other irrational determinants of human behaviour
When completing a questionnaire people may find it impossible to anticipate strong desires + emotions that compel their behaviour in real life
Ignores other factors
Group variables = such as identification with peers which could play a mediating role in the relation with tobacco addiction or indeed any addictive behaviour
Motivation = recovery was more successful in indis who had decided themselves to give up rather than people forced too = self-determination theory
Intention + expectation
Distinction should be made between behavioural intention (plans about future behaviour) + expectation (perceived likelihood of performing a particular behaviour)
Smoker may think it likely they will have given up smoking in 5 years time (expectation) without having definite plan to do so (intention)
Self-report techniques
Most research relies on
May turn out to be poor representations of the attitudes + intentions that eventually exist in behavioural situation + thus make poor predictors of actual behaviour
Correlational
Research on TPB is mainly correlational, linking +ve outcomes to certain behaviours = not causal
