Transtheoretical model of behavior change

As the studies above have suggested, besides a certain level of rationality, choices of religion cover the area of sociology and psychology as well, which are not an aim of the current research. However, this decision – regardless of whether it is a rational choice or not – can be described as a process, which may cover various time spans depending on the individual and the circumstances and can result in different levels of engagement, which is realized in certain levels of behavior change (Iannaccone, 1988, 1990, 1991,

Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c

25

1992a, 1992b, 1998, 2012, 2016; McClosky, 1998; McKinnon, 2011;

Schlicht, 1995).

The Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (TTM) is a model developed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) to conceptualize the intentional changes in human behavior. The model aimed to interpret what processes people fighting addictions or seeking for a healthier life are going through. It was tested and validated on twelve different health behaviors and showed consistency in the stages and processes of change. The model identified five stages of behavior change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance, as Figure 1 shows (Newcomb, 2017;

Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983; Szabó, 2016; Szakály, 2006; University of Maryland, 2020; Velicer et al., 1998).

Figure 1 – The stages of change in the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (Source: own edition based on Newcomb, 2017)

In the first, Precontemplation stage people are not about to make any changes to their behaviors and are sometimes not even aware of the changes that could be made. In the next, Contemplation stage awareness already arises and a motivation to change the behavior in the near future of approximately half a year appears. This stage is characterized by weighing the costs and benefits

Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c

26

of making the changes and active information seeking, and the beginning of the rational decision making process. In the Preparation phase the information seeking continues, but the decision has already been made to change the behavior within a short period of time of approximately a month.

In this stage individuals are usually not entirely committed to their decision to make changes. In the Action phase individuals start to change their behavior actively; and this is the stage where relapse to the earlier stages is most likely in case of difficulties or the lack of reassurance. The fifth – and last – stage is Maintenance, when people have already been able to maintain the changed behavior patterns for at least half a year. In this stage there is still a chance of relapse, but by the time it decreases compared to the action phase.

The movement along these stages is often not linear and may take different time spans depending on numerous internal and external factors influencing the individual (Newcomb, 2017; Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983; Prochaska

& Velicer, 1997; Szabó, 2016; Szakály, 2006; University of Maryland, 2020;

Velicer et al., 1998).

When making a change in their behaviors through the five stages of change, individuals go through different processes of change, which may appear in numerous forms of behaviors. Prochaska & Velicer (1997) identified ten different processes of change categorized into two groups:

experiential and behavioral factors. In their research both factors were made up of five elements: the experiential factor including more internal experiences, while the behavioral factor focusing on the overt activities. Table 3 introduces the processes within the two factors (Newcomb, 2017; Prochaska

& Velicer, 1997; Szabó, 2016; Szakály, 2006; University of Maryland, 2020;

Velicer et al., 1998).

Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c

27

Table 3 – The processes of behavior change

Experiential processes Behavioral processes

 Consciousness raising  Contingency management

 Dramatic relief  Helping relationships

 Environmental reevaluation  Counterconditioning

 Self-reevaluation  Stimulus control

 Social liberation  Self-liberation

(Source: own edition based on Prochaska & Velicer, 1997; University of Maryland, 2020)

According to Prochaska & Velicer (1997) the number of processes can change depending on the behavior intended to change; the elements of the two factors are not present in every case and there may also be slight differences among the processes, when studying changes in different behaviors. Figure 2 shows the distribution of the processes among the five stages of change, based on the twelve health behaviors examined in the original study, but we can already see that in this aggregated figure only nine out of the ten processes appear because of the processes not being consistent for every health behavior (Prochaska & Velicer, 1997; University of Maryland, 2020).

Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c Click to BUY NOW!

.tracker-software.c

28

Figure 2 – Stages of change in which change processes are more emphasized (Source: own edition based on Prochaska & Velicer, 1997;pp.

43.; Velicer et al., 1998)

Since the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change also relies primarily or rational choice theory, assuming individuals to weigh the costs and benefits of the behavior change to be made in the contemplation phase, but analyzes the decision by a timeline approach and not at one point of time, it may be applied to analyze not only health behaviors and addictions, but also decisions concerning religious engagement, which requires dedication and behavior changes similar to when engaging in a new lifestyle. Presumably, behavior changes bound to religion would result in a different distribution of processes and behaviors in the stages of change compared to the twelve health behaviors originally examined, which however is again a research area of behavioral sciences.