Question

What is the theory of planned behavior? How can we explain how to exercise more often using the theory of planned behavior?

Answer 1

Theory of planned behaviour shows how the human behaviour is controlled by an individual’s attitudes, social norms and control. Rational thinking governs the choices, decisions and behaviour of an individual. The intentions of the individual reflects his personal attitudes. The components of the model are:
• Behavioural beliefs: It serves as a link between behaviour to the outcome that the behaviour is expected to bring out. It the behavioural beliefs that will directly influence the attitude of an individual. If the expected outcome is favourable for the individual then the person will have a positive attitude towards the behaviour and by which the performance is increased. The behavioural beliefs focus if the behaviour is favourable or not.
• Normative beliefs: It involves the people around the individual on what they expect regarding their behaviour. It helps to decide whether the behaviour should be this way or that way. For example in the case of smoking, an individual knows that his family doesn't like this behaviour and is against him smoking. But at his workplace people are not much concerned about it. In this scenario the individual is likely to be selective. He doesn't smoke when he is at home or with him family and smoked when he is at work or with his co-workers.
• Control beliefs: The control factors have an impact on how the performance of the action is. For example in the scenario of smoking, if there is any policy in the workplace like not to smoke, is a powerful control factor. This will make the individual decide if he has to stop smoking at workplace or not. But if there is no policy or if the policy isn’t followed seriously in the workplace, the control factor becomes weak. There will be no much power in the decision taking.
All these factors have a direct relationship on the behaviour of an individual. If the attitudes and subjective norms of an individual is strong the behaviour of an individual will be positive.
For example; how to exercise more often. So here the attitude of the person is very important. He should know the benefits of exercise and build up a positive attitude towards exercise and to continue. In this the behavioural belief is that exercise will bring about positiveness and will have good health impact on the individual. Believing the outcome the individual choses to exercise. In the normative belief the individual should get reference from other people who exercise and find out how they feel about it. If this is positive, the individual will continue exercising. The control factors are the family and friends. They influence the individual. So here it’s their duty to positively influence the individual, thus making the individual to exercise more often.