ABC of Behaviour Change Theories

An Essential Resource for Researchers, Policy Makers and Practitioners

Written by Susan Michie, Robert West, Rona Campbell, Jamie Brown & Heather Gainforth

ABC of Behaviour Change Theories Book Cover

This book describes 83 theories of behaviour change, identified by an expert panel of psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and economists as relevant to designing interventions. For each theory, the book provides a brief summary, a list of its component constructs, a more extended description and a network analysis to show its links with other theories in the book. It considers the role of theory in understanding behaviour change and its application to designing and evaluating interventions.

This website includes a facility to make additions and amendments to the theory descriptions, lists of constructs and network analyses that can be incorporated into future editions. In due course, it will also include a database of the theories which can be searched according to the constructs used. This will be the result of current work which is mapping the constructs across theories, which is a formidable task given >1000 constructs and the work required to assess similarity and difference of construct labels.

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1: Action Theory Model of Consumption

2: Affective Events Theory

3: Aids Risk Reduction Model

4: Behavioural-Ecological Model of Adolescent Aids Prevention

5: CEOS Theory

6: Change Theory

7: Classical Conditioning

8: COM-B System

9: Consumption as Social Practices

10: Containment Theory

11: Control Theory

12: Differential Association Theory

13: Diffusion of Innovations

14: Ecological Model for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Minority Youth

15: Extended Information Processing Model

16: Extended Parallel Processing Model

17: Feedback Intervention Theory

18: Focus Theory of Normative Conduct

19: General Theory of Crime

20: General Theory of Deviant Behaviour

21: Goal Directed Theory

22: Goal-Framing Theory

23: Goal Setting Theory

24: Health Action Process Approach

25: Health Behaviour Goal Model

26: Health Behaviour Internalisation Model

27: Health Belief Model

28: Health Promotion Model

29: I-Change Model

30: Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills Model

31: Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills Model of Adherence

32: Integrated Theoretical Model for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention

33: Integrated Theory of Drinking Behaviour

34: Integrated Theory of Health Behaviour Change

35: Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction

36: Integrative Model of Factors Influencing Smoking Behaviour

37: Integrative Model of Health Attitude and Behaviour Change

38: Integrative Model of Factors Influencing Smoking And Attitude And Health Behaviour Change

39: Model of Pro-Environmental Behaviour

40: Motivation-Opportunities-Abilities Model

41: Needs-Opportunities-Abilities Model

42: Norm Activation Theory

43: Operant Learning Theory

44: Precaution Adoption Process Model

45: Pressure System Model

46: PRIME Theory

47: Problem Behaviour Theory

48: Prospect Theory

49: Protection Motivation Theory

50: Prototype Willingness Model

51: Rational Addiction Model

52: Reflective Impulsive Model

53: Regulatory Fit Theory

54: Relapse Prevention Model

55: Risk as Feelings Theory

56: Self-Determination Theory

57: Self-Efficacy Theory

58: Self-Regulation Theory

59: Six Staged Model of Communication Effects

60: Social Action Theory

61: Social Action Theory

62: Social Change Theory

63: Social Cognitive Theory

64: Social Consensus Model of Health Education

65: Social Development Model

66: Social Ecological Model of Behaviour Change

67: Social Ecological Model of Walking

68: Social Identity Theory

69: Social Influence Model of Consumer Participation

70: Social Learning Theory

71: Social Norms Theory

72: Systems Model of Health Behaviour Change

73: Technology Acceptance Model 1, 2 & 3

74: Temporal Self-Regulation Theory

75: Terror Management Theory

76: Terror Management Health Model

77: Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour

78: Theory of Normative Social Behaviour

79: Theory of Planned Behaviour

80: Theory of Triadic Influence

81: Transcontextual Model of Motivation

82: Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change

83: Value Belief Norm Theory

This book is a wonderful resource for students, scientists and practitioners working to encourage and evaluate behaviour change strategies.
Professor Karen Glanz, George A. Weiss University Professor, University of Pennsylvania
This impressive book will facilitate the integration of theory and evidence in a cumulative science of behaviour change.
Professor Marie Johnston, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen
This book will greatly assist researchers and practitioners interested in behaviour change to navigate their way in the Babel of theories that have developed.
Professor Wayne Hall, Director, Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland
This compendium’s structured summaries of current behavioural theory (and their inter-relationships) will be a major resource for anyone interested in developing theory-informed implementation programs.
Professor Jeremy Grimshaw, Director, Cochrane Canada
This book and website will be an important resource for people working to improve public health in any setting.
Sally Wyke, Deputy Director, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow