Science of Behavior Change for Adaptation to Climate Change

1. Science of Behavior Change
for Adaptation to Climate
James O. Prochaska, Ph.D.
Change
Director and Professor
Cancer Prevention Research Center
University of Rhode Island
.

2. Transtheoretical Model (TTM)
Model of Intentional Behavior Change
Overview
Basis for developing interventions to promote
(health) behavior change
Describes how people:
modify a problem behavior acquire a positive one

3. TTM & Climate Change?
Mitigation Climate Change
Adaptation
Behavior Change Behavior Change
Levels of Change

4. Stages of Change
TTM

5. Precontemplation
Stages of Change
Not Ready to Take Action
 Have no intention to
start taking action in
the next 6 months.
Stages of Change
 Example:
* Currently not exercising.
* Do not intend to begin exercising in the next 6 months.

6. 1. Uninformed
Characteristics of Precontemplation
2. Demoralization
3. Denial

7. Contemplation
Stages of Change
Thinking About Taking Action
 Intend to start in
the next 6 months
Stages of Change
 Example:
* Currently not exercising.
* Intend to begin exercising in the next 6 months.

8. Characteristics of Contemplation
1. Doubt
2. Delay

9. Preparation
Stages of Change
Getting Ready to Take Action
 Intend to start in the
Stages of Change
next 30 days
 Example:
* Currently not exercising.
* Intend to begin exercising in the next 30 days.

10. Characteristics of Preparation
1. Fear of failure
2. Be prepared

11. Action
Stages of Change
Behavior Change Recently Started
 Consistently for less than
Stages of Change 6 months
 Example:
* Exercising.
* Have been exercising for less than 6 months.

12. Maintenance
Stages of Change
Has Changed Behavior for an Extended Time
 Consistently for more
Stages of Change than 6 months
 Example:
* Exercising.
* Have been exercising for more than 6 months.

13. Two Examples
Stages of Change
Pre-
Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance
contemplation
sump pump installation

14. How do people move from one stage to another?
Stage Transition
Processes
of
Change
Decisional Self-
Balance Efficacy
STAGE

15. Decisional Balance
Pros =
Pros & Cons Cons =
Advantages Disadvantages
of changing of changing
Exercising Exercising
+ more energy - takes time
+ sleep better - could get injured
+ more productive at work - $ equipment/membership
Adapting Adapting
+ home/property protected - takes time
+ reduce community burden - $ to adapt
+ save money (in the future) - may not be worth it

16. How do people move from one stage to another?
Decisional Balance
Pros =
Advantages
of changing
Cons =
Disadvantages
A growing awareness that the advantages (Pros) of
of changing
changing outweigh the disadvantages (Cons)

17. Stage Transitions
56
54
52 Pros
Cons
50
48
46
44
The pros and cons of changing across stages of change for 48
PC Cont PR Action Maint
behaviors
Hall, K. L. & Rossi, J. S. (2008). Meta-analytic examination of the strong and weak principles across 48 health
behaviors. Preventive Medicine, 46, 266-274.

18. Self-Efficacy
Confidence
Not at all Confident Very Confident
1-------2-------3-------4-------5
Exercising
* When I am stressed.
* When I am tired.
* When I don’t have a workout buddy.
Adapting
* When it costs me too much $.
* When I can’t find people to help me.
* When I think about the uncertainty of damage.

19. Self-Efficacy
How do people move from one stage to another?
Confidence
60
Confidence / Self-Efficacy
50
40
Precontemplation Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance
Confidence that they can make and maintain
PC C PR A M
changes in difficult situations

20. Strategies that can help people make and maintain change
Processes of Change
 10 Processes of Change; 2 types
Consciousness Raising Self Liberation
Experiential Processes Behavioral Processes
Dramatic Relief Counter Conditioning
Environmental Reevaluation Stimulus Control
Social Liberation Reinforcement Management
Self Reevaluation Helping Relationships
Different processes are most effective
at different Stages of Change

21. Stage of Change
35
30
25
20
15
PC
10 Cont
Action
5 Main.
0
Adv. & Pro. Public Edu. Laws & Pen. Taxs & Fees Rest. Smoke

22. TTM & Climate Change?
Mitigation Climate Change
Adaptation
Behavior Change Behavior Change
Levels of Change