Theory of planned behaviour Flashcards
What is the main assumption of the theory of planned behaviour?
It is a cognitive theory about the factors that lead to a person’s decision to engage in particular behaviour. an individuals decision to engage in behaviour can be predicted by their intention to do so. Intention is influenced by 3 factors
What are the 3 factors that can influence a person being an addiction?
Behavioural attitude
Subjective norms
Perceived behavioural control
What is behavioural attitude?
A product of personal views which the individual has towards the behaviour.
Their attitude is based on the beliefs about the consequences of performing the behaviour.
What is subjective norms?
A product of social influences
the individuals subjective views of social norms and the individuals own beliefs about what they and others think is the right thing to do and what others are doing
What is perceived behavioural control
Assumed to act on the intention to behave in a way or directly on the behaviour itself.
The more control someone believes they have on the behaviour, the strong their intention to actually do so.
Someone with a higher perceived control is more likely to try harder and persevere for longer.
Changing behavioural attitudes
how has this been used to prevent addictive behaviour?
Campaigns used are determined on the success of the influence on attitudes
Campaigns try to create a different attitude towards the effect of the addiction in question and name it as inconsistent with being autonomous and achieving aspirations which are important to teens.
Changing subjective norms
how has this been used to prevent addictive behaviour?
This is used to give people actual data about the percentage of those engaging in that behaviour. This is done to change the subjective norm. E.g. telling adolescents most dont smoke so they dont see it as the norm
Perceived behavioural control
how has this been used to prevent addictive behaviour?
These prevention programmes should focus on the will power requires to give up smoking and also alert smokers of the effort that is required to modify smoking behaviour.
Addiction to sun
This supports the theory. When people were asked their sun protection predictions and then reported their behaviour over the next fortnight, TPB predictors were significant in predicting their intention to engage in this behaviour and these were significant in their actual behaviour.
EVALUATION:
What are the 2 strengths of this theory
Takes into account that addicts dont always have control over their behaviour-obstacles stand in the way
Researchers have found that perceived behavioural control was a strong indicator of binge drinking.
EVALUATION:
What are 2 weaknesses of this theory?
Reductionist-doesnt take into account emotions or compulsions.
Intention does not always lead to behaviour being carried out. E.g. intend to stop but withdraw instead.
