Free Essay Example on The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Introduction

The theory of planned behavior manages to predict the actions that individuals want to undertake to ensure that they exert self-control. The theory has been used over time to explain a wide range of human beings’ intentions and health behaviors, such as drinking, smoking, and substance abuse. The behavioral achievements noted in human beings depend on motivation and their ability to undertake certain activities. It helps to distinguish various beliefs that include control, normative, and behavioral.

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Components

The theory of planned behavioral components includes social norms, attitudes, intentions, and perceived behavioral control. Social norms are the customary codes of behavior that are noted in a group of people. Human beings tend to engage in certain behaviors when they are under pressure when they want to meet the requirements that are underlined by normative social influence. When handling the components of social norms, it is essential to know the descriptive norms and the practices followed by people when they are not familiar with a given situation.

The normative values cover the shared undertakings on the activities considered by people to be forbidden or obligatory. Based on these assertions, human beings decide whether a behavior is normal, typical, or effective by making the observation of the various behaviors that are displayed by the people that are around them. Therefore, social norms highlighted by the theory of planned behavior is a social interaction mechanism that enables people to understand what is good in society. Some scholars claim that there is a positive correlation between social norms and behavioral intentions that are depicted in contexts of pro-environmental behavior.

Attitudes

The attitude covers the degree to which an individual tends to have an unfavorable or favorable evaluation of the behavior that is under interest by consideration of outcomes that will be realized by performing a given behavior. Psychologists believe that attitudes are inherent psychological property that is made of effective and cognitive tendencies that show persistence and consistent actions. Under the behavioral change system, it is essential to ensure that human beings manage to get additional information on matters relating to the environment (Bohon et al., 2016). If the details can help to raise the situations of an environment, they will become aware of the prevailing situation and develop positive attitudes towards it.

They will manage to exhibit elements that are suitable for the prevailing conditions and depict pro-environmental behavior. There exists a positive attitude between pro-environmental behavior and environmental attitudes. There is a need to undertake investigations on the attitudes that people have towards behavior recycling instead of the views that they hold towards the environment. According to the planned behavior theoretical model, attitudes are defined as the judgments that human beings make on the elements they like or dislike. People are likely to show a high level of behavior intention in an activity that they like.

Perceived Behavioral Control

The perceived behavioral controls are the perceptions held by human beings on their ability to engage in a given behavior. The performance of a given behavior by human beings is generally influenced by the availability of resources and the ability of people to control the barriers that are making them unable to engage in an action. There is a significant urge to engage in certain activities when resources are adequate, and the number of elements that limit the undertaking of activity is reduced.

Human beings may have the intent to change and maintain health behavior, but this may fail due to the environment that they are living in at the moment. It is essential to ensure that human behavior is controlled. The opportunities and resources that are available to an individual should help in dictating behavioral achievement. Perceived behavioral control tends to have a significant impact on human actions and intentions. It is critical to note that the theory of planned behavior is different from the theory of reasoned action and this can be shown by the perceived behavioral control inclusion in the TPB.

Human beings have the perception of the difficulty or ease that exists when faced with the intent to perform the behavior of interest. Therefore, this shows that perceived behavioral control can vary based on actions or situations. There is a possibility that an individual may believe that their outcomes are controlled by their behavior, but in the real sense, this may not be the case.

Intentions

The behavior intention covers the motivational factors that tend to influence a given behavior. When the intention to undertake a given action is high, there is a better probability that the behavior will be undertaken. The perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and attitudes are critical in determining the behavioral intention. There exist a strong association between the actual performance of a behavior and behavioral intention though the connection is dependent on the volitional control. The degree upon which an individual has complete control to make a decision at will on whether they should perform or not perform a behavior. Intervention strategies that help in minimizing barriers or reinforcing facilitators are highly likely to lead to cases of sustained behavior change in comparison to the activities that do not address the subjective norm or attitude.

Differences

The behavior-istic approach that is directed towards human motivation helps to examine the way that motives are learned and the process that is involved in facilitating the interaction between external goals and internal drives supporting the generation of behavior. Motivation is a significant component that leads to the formation of behavior. In the case of the behavioral perspective, there are assumptions that a significant number of behaviors of interest to social and behavioral activities are under the case of volitional control with strong perceptions of control. The individuals who are inclined towards engaging in a certain behavior of interest are likely to undertake it. Additionally, they have a high capability level of failing to undertake it if they want. It is an indication that the performance of a behavior has a direct effect on behavioral intentions.

The theory of planned behaviors helps people to engage in mental health services due to its inability to link people’s behavior and beliefs. The values and assertions that people hold towards the issue of mental illness enable them to either engage in the activity or not. When an individual’s behavior is inclined towards helping others with the belief that a mental problem is an ailment, they are likely to offer the intended assistance. The attitude that people portray, the behavioral control, and subject norms manage to shape their behavioral intention and the measures they can take towards managing their mental health problems. According to the theory, the possibility of an individual helping in the case of a mental health problem is directly correlated to their intention to engage in such an act.

Culture has a connection to the norms and social behaviors that are shown by human beings. It handles the beliefs, attitudes, customs, and habits that are depicted by people in society. It is an indication that the element of culture adopted in a given community directly relates to the Theory of Planned Behavior assertions. Through relying on cultural beliefs and values, individuals are highly likely to be motivated to help in handling and managing mental health services. Through planned behaviors and the cultural values and beliefs that are shown by people, they are motivated to help in the management of mental health services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the theory of planned behaviors manages to provide a prediction of actions that individuals want to take to make sure that they are exerting self-control. The theory is utilized in offering explanations of the actions taken by various individuals and their intentions. The motivation that people have towards taking a given activity is affected by their motivation level. The actions that people desire, they are highly likely to implement those activities though they have the power to fail to undertake them when they want. Some of the components involved in the Theory of Planned Behavior include attitudes, social norms, intentions, and perceived behavioral control.

People who have the desire to help are likely to engage in activities that involve finding solutions to mental health problems. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between culture and the theory of planned behaviors. They both cover the values, attitudes, and beliefs that are noted among people in society, and this is an indication that based on culture, it is possible to explain the behaviors shown in people as they seek ways of finding solutions to the problems prevailing in the community.