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The Theory of Planned Behavior
This chapter describes the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a prominent reasoned action model, its conceptual foundation, its intellectual history, and the research it has generated. Emerging from propositional control and expectancy theory, the TPB serves as a critical framework for understanding, predicting, and altering human social behavior. According to the TPB, intention acts as the immediate precursor to behavior and is influenced by three key determinants: attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. These determinants are derived from beliefs regarding the likely consequences of the behavior, normative expectations from significant others, and the presence of factors that govern behavioral performance. Empirical support for the TPB is extensive, derived from numerous correlational studies that validate its predictive capability concerning intentions and behaviors. Additionally, interventions have demonstrated that modifications in behavioral, normative, and control beliefs can lead to changes in intentions, which are subsequently reflected in actual behaviors. The chapter further examines the TPB’s reasoned action approach in light of contemporary research focusing on automatic, nonconscious processes in human social behavior. It posits that insights into automaticity can enhance the understanding of behavior that the reasoned action approach provides. [NPID: behavior, framework, intentions, attitude, unconscious]
Year: 2012b
