AQA Syllabus focus:
'The application of Prochaska’s six-stage model of behaviour change.'
Behavior change in addiction is rarely a single decision. Prochaska’s model explains change as a gradual, staged process, helping psychologists understand readiness, tailor support, and interpret relapse more realistically.
What Prochaska’s model proposes
Prochaska and DiClemente suggested that people move through a series of stages when changing addictive behavior. The model is often called the transtheoretical model because it combines ideas from different psychological approaches.
Diagram summarising the transtheoretical (stages-of-change) model by laying out the stages in order and pairing the original labels (e.g., precontemplation → termination) with simplified wording. This helps you visualise behaviour change as a staged progression rather than a single ‘quit’ moment, reinforcing the model’s emphasis on readiness to change. Source
A central assumption is that people differ in readiness to change, so the same advice will not work equally well for everyone.
Stages of change model: A theory proposing that behavior change happens through a sequence of stages rather than in one sudden step.
The model is especially useful in addiction because many people know a behavior is harmful but still feel uncertain, unprepared, or unable to stop. It also recognizes that movement is often cyclical. A person can progress, stall, or move backward before change becomes stable.
The six stages
Precontemplation is the stage in which the person does not yet intend to change. They may deny the seriousness of the addiction, underestimate risk, or believe change is unnecessary.
Contemplation begins when the person becomes aware that change may be needed. They start thinking seriously about stopping or reducing the behavior, but ambivalence is strong. They can see both the costs and the perceived benefits of the addiction.
Preparation occurs when the person decides to act soon and starts planning. They may set a date, seek information, tell other people, or make small initial changes.
Action is the stage in which overt behavior change takes place. The person actively tries to stop or reduce the addictive behavior and uses strategies to support that effort.
Maintenance involves sustaining the new behavior over time. The main task is preventing a return to the old pattern, especially when triggers, stress, or social pressure appear.
Termination is the final stage, in which the new behavior is fully established and the person no longer feels significant temptation to return to the addiction. In practice, this stage is difficult to reach in many addictions, but it represents the goal of stable long-term change.
Many applications of the model also include the possibility of relapse.
This is important because setbacks are common in addiction and do not automatically mean treatment has failed.
Relapse: A return to an earlier addictive pattern after an attempt to change or stop the behavior.
A relapse may move a person back to contemplation, preparation, or even precontemplation. The key idea is that change can resume.
Applying the model to addiction
The main practical value of Prochaska’s model is stage-matched intervention.
Instead of assuming every person is ready for immediate action, support is matched to the stage they are currently in.
Early stages: building motivation
In precontemplation, pressure to “just quit” is often ineffective because the person does not yet accept the need for change. More useful approaches include increasing awareness of harm, encouraging reflection, and challenging minimization.
In contemplation, the focus is on resolving ambivalence. The person may want the benefits of change while also fearing discomfort, failure, or loss of pleasure. At this point, psychologists try to strengthen commitment by helping the person clarify personal reasons for changing.
Middle stages: turning intention into action
In preparation, practical planning becomes important. The person may identify triggers, remove opportunities for the addictive behavior, arrange support, and decide what to do when cravings or risky situations occur.
In action, the person needs strong behavioral commitment. Progress is supported by monitoring behavior, using coping strategies, avoiding high-risk cues, and gaining reinforcement for healthier choices. Because action requires effort, motivation must be maintained rather than assumed.
Later stages: maintaining gains
In maintenance, the emphasis shifts from initial change to relapse prevention. The person practices coping responses, reviews warning signs, and prepares for lapses without giving up completely. This stage may last a long time.
In termination, the change has become part of the person’s normal lifestyle. The addiction is no longer central to daily decision-making, and self-control is more automatic.
Why the model matters
A major strength of the model is that it is realistic. Many people do not stop an addictive behavior the first time they try, so a stage model reflects actual patterns of change better than a simple success-or-failure view.
It also has clear practical value. Clinicians, teachers, and health campaigns can use the model to judge readiness and communicate more effectively. Someone in precontemplation may need information and reflection, whereas someone in action needs concrete strategies and encouragement.
Another strength is that it reduces blame. If relapse is seen as part of a longer process, people may be more willing to re-engage with treatment instead of feeling that one setback makes change pointless.
Limitations of the model
Despite its usefulness, the model has limits. Real behavior does not always fit neat stage boundaries. Some people change suddenly after a major event, while others show features of several stages at once.
There is also a measurement problem. A person’s stage is usually identified through self-report, but people may be unsure, inconsistent, or influenced by social desirability. This can make stage-based classification less precise.
A further issue is that the model describes how change often unfolds, but it is less detailed about why one person progresses and another does not. Factors such as environment, stress, and available support can strongly affect movement between stages. The model is therefore most useful when combined with careful assessment of the person’s current needs.
Practice Questions
Outline two stages of Prochaska’s six-stage model of behavior change. (2 marks)
1 mark for each correctly identified and briefly outlined stage, up to 2 marks.
Accept any two of:
precontemplation
contemplation
preparation
action
maintenance
termination
To gain the mark, the stage must include some accurate description, not just the name alone.
Explain how Prochaska’s six-stage model of behavior change can be applied to reducing addiction. (6 marks)
Award 1 mark for each accurate point made, up to 6 marks.
Credit relevant points such as:
behavior change is viewed as a process through stages rather than a single event
interventions should be matched to the person’s readiness to change
in precontemplation, support should raise awareness rather than demand immediate action
in contemplation, support should address ambivalence and strengthen motivation
in preparation, the person makes plans and organizes support
in action, the person actively changes behavior and uses coping strategies
in maintenance, the focus is on relapse prevention and sustaining gains
termination refers to stable long-term change with little temptation to return
relapse can occur and does not necessarily mean total failure because the model is cyclical
FAQ
Some versions leave out termination and stop at maintenance.
This is usually because, in addictive behaviors, complete absence of temptation may be unrealistic for many people. Clinicians often prefer to think in terms of long-term maintenance, where the person stays alert to risk even after major improvement.
So the difference is not usually about rejecting the model. It is more about whether termination is seen as a realistic final stage in addiction.
They usually use:
structured interviews
self-report questionnaires
short “readiness to change” rating scales
discussion of recent behavior and future intentions
A psychologist might ask whether the person plans to change soon, has already started, or is mainly defending the current behavior.
Stage classification is helpful, but it is not perfectly precise. A person may sound contemplative in one setting and precontemplative in another.
Decisional balance means weighing the perceived pros and cons of changing.
In earlier stages, the short-term benefits of the addictive behavior may seem stronger than the costs. As the person moves forward, the disadvantages of continuing and the advantages of change become more important.
This idea helps explain why information alone may not be enough. If the person still sees the addiction as rewarding, they may remain stuck even when they know the risks.
Self-efficacy is the person’s belief that they can successfully make and maintain change.
Higher self-efficacy tends to help people move from preparation into action and from action into maintenance. It is especially important when cravings, stress, or social pressure are present.
Self-efficacy can be strengthened by:
small successes
realistic goals
support from others
practicing coping responses before high-risk situations occur
Low self-efficacy can make relapse more likely, even when motivation is high.
Yes. The model can shape messages for different audiences.
For example:
precontemplation messages may focus on awareness
contemplation messages may prompt reflection
preparation messages may offer practical next steps
maintenance messages may support staying on track
This can make campaigns more targeted than using the same message for everyone.
However, mass campaigns have a limitation: a mixed audience will contain people at many different stages, so one message may still miss some groups.
