Identify and explain the five stages of change in The Transtheoretical Model

Answer 1

1) Precontemplation: A person in this stage has no intention of changing and in fact resists any efforts to modify the problem behavior. The reasons for this include no awareness that a problem exists, denial of a problem, awareness of the problem but unwillingness to change, or feelings of hopelessness after attempting to change.
2) Contemplation: Contemplators recognize a need to change, but are in a state of ambivalence, alternating between reasons to change and reasons not to change. People can be stuck in this stage for years waiting for absolute certainty, the magic moment, or just wishing for different consequences without changing behavior. If asked, contemplators are likely to say they intend to change their undesired behavior in the next six months.
3) Preparation: Preparers believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of changing and are committed to take action in the near future (within the next thirty days). They may have taken small steps to prepare for a change.
4) Action: Clients are considered to be in this stage if they have altered the target behavior to an acceptable degree for one day or up to six months and continue to work at it.
5) Maintenance: A person in this stage has been engaging in the new behavior and is consolidating the gains attained during previous stages.