Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy

Introduction

There are four main generally accepted theories of human health behavior: sociocognitive, transtheoretical, planned behavior, and human beliefs. Each has its own focus on the specifics of human behavior change and is most strongly influenced by specific manifestations of need, self-efficacy, trust, or other manifestations of behavior change incentives and depend on susceptibility.

The Social-Cognitive Model of Behavior

The social-cognitive focuses on behavior change through the results of observing other members of society. Imitation and modeling of behavior are among the basic tenets of understanding this theory; that is, it involves copying the emotional or cognitive processes of other members of society (Ntoumanis et al., 2021). Trust and need are shaped by social notions and averaged notions in society.

The Transtheoretical Model of Behavior

Transtheoretical implies alternating stages of the process of behavioral change, which stretches the overall understanding of this change over time. Thus, a person’s perception and resilience fully determine their approach to changing their goals and actions. Self-efficacy is essential and manifests itself in the format of balancing decisions and determining the most optimal needs and points of confidence.

The Model of Planned Behavior

The theory of planned behavior explains all human actions and changes in them through the subjective perception of social norms and exposure to behavioral control. A person’s values and attitudes are shaped by their self-assessment of behavioral norms and social pressure levels. This theory is most related to the individual’s self-awareness and depends on their definition of self-efficacy and moral and ethical norms.

The Model of Health Belief

The health belief model includes the self-confidence of the person being observed and assumes their behavior based on it. Confidence in this regard is highly subjective and self-interested, and needs are defined accordingly (Ntoumanis et al., 2021). Behavioral change requires that the results exceed the value of the effort expended to change, which is directly expressed in the adjustment of the person’s opinion.

Conclusion

Thus, all theories have a reasonable description of the change in human behavior in the process of health promotion. The main contrast between them lies in the approach and degree of perception of the situation. The transtheoretical model in this format is the most adequate and legitimate because it allows paying attention to each stage of behavior change separately and can impact the empowering and encouraging of the change.

Reference

Ntoumanis, N., Ng, J. Y. Y., Prestwich, A., Quested, E., Hancox, J. E., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Lonsdale, C., & Williams, G. C. (2021). A meta-analysis of self-determination theory-informed intervention studies in the health domain: effects on motivation, health behavior, physical, and psychological health. Health Psychology Review, 15(2), 214–244. Web.

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PsychologyWriting. (2024, November 15). Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy. https://psychologywriting.com/four-theories-of-human-health-behavior-approaches-to-behavior-change-and-role-of-self-efficacy/

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"Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy." PsychologyWriting, 15 Nov. 2024, psychologywriting.com/four-theories-of-human-health-behavior-approaches-to-behavior-change-and-role-of-self-efficacy/.

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PsychologyWriting. (2024) 'Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy'. 15 November.

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PsychologyWriting. 2024. "Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy." November 15, 2024. https://psychologywriting.com/four-theories-of-human-health-behavior-approaches-to-behavior-change-and-role-of-self-efficacy/.

1. PsychologyWriting. "Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy." November 15, 2024. https://psychologywriting.com/four-theories-of-human-health-behavior-approaches-to-behavior-change-and-role-of-self-efficacy/.


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PsychologyWriting. "Four Theories of Human Health Behavior: Approaches to Behavior Change and Role of Self-Efficacy." November 15, 2024. https://psychologywriting.com/four-theories-of-human-health-behavior-approaches-to-behavior-change-and-role-of-self-efficacy/.