Our new website is on its way. The book is available to buy as usual:see where to buy

ABC of Behaviour Change TheoriesBuy the book

ABC of Behaviour Change Theories

An Essential Resource for Researchers, Policy Makers and Practitioners

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

This book describes 83 theories of behaviour change, identified by an expert panel of psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and economists as relevant to designing interventions.

Buy the bookDownload the PDF or ePub
ABC of Behaviour Change Theories book, front and back covers
Theories
83
Pages
504
Formats
Paperback, PDF, ePub
Paperback ISBN
978-1-912141-01-2

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 also considers the role of theory in understanding behaviour change and its application to designing and evaluating interventions.

What people are saying

This book is a wonderful resource for students, scientists and practitioners working to encourage and evaluate behaviour change strategies.
Professor Karen GlanzGeorge A. Weiss University Professor, University of Pennsylvania

83 theories in one essential reference

The theories cover a very wide range of constructs, many of which overlap. Some have a very broad focus, including intra-individual and external influences, while others address specific aspects of motivation such as a desire for self-determination, norms and moral imperatives.

Some focus on change processes while others focus on factors that maintain ongoing behaviour. They vary in how far they address specific behaviours, health-related behaviours or behaviour in general, and in how far they focus on cognitions, feelings, habits, or bring these together into a common framework. To help you decide which theories to use for intervention design, the book includes nine criteria for evaluating theory quality.

The theories described include:

  • COM-B System
  • Health Belief Model
  • Theory of Planned Behaviour
  • Social Cognitive Theory
  • Self-Determination Theory
  • Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change
  • Health Action Process Approach
  • PRIME Theory
  • Diffusion of Innovations
  • Operant Learning Theory
  • Prospect Theory
  • Protection Motivation Theory
  • Social Identity Theory
  • Goal Setting Theory
  • Reflective Impulsive Model
  • …and 68 more

What’s inside

About the authors

Susan Michie

Professor of Health Psychology at University College London, where she is Director of the Centre for Behaviour Change. She has been a key player in advancing behavioural science methods, including the application of theory to developing and evaluating interventions, and regularly contributes to national and international policy work.

More about Susan

Robert West

Professor of Health Psychology at University College London and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Addiction. He is founder of the PRIME Theory of motivation, author of Theory of Addiction and co-founder of the NHS stop-smoking services, with more than 500 scientific articles, books and book chapters.

More about Robert

Rona Campbell

Professor of Public Health Research at the University of Bristol, Director of the DECIPHer centre and Bristol lead for the NIHR School for Public Health Research, with a strong interest in making better use of social and behavioural theory in public health research.

Jamie Brown

A chartered psychologist at University College London who has published widely on methods for stopping and reducing the harm from smoking, and co-authored the second edition of Theory of Addiction with Professor West.

Heather Gainforth

A researcher whose work focuses on the social and psychological factors that foster behaviour change, developing and evaluating interventions, and implementing evidence-based practice.

Where to buy

Get your copy of ABC of Behaviour Change Theories

Available in paperback from bookshops worldwide, or as an instant download direct from the publisher.

PDF & ePub

Buy direct from Silverback Publishing and download straight away to read on your computer, tablet or e-reader.

Buy the PDF or ePub

Booksellers & bulk orders

Booksellers in the UK can order through Gardners. For larger quantities we also offer direct sales: email us and we will get back to you with a quote.

Email us