Essay Sample on The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)

Introduction

The theory of planned behaviour manages to predict the actions that individuals want to undertake to ensure that they exert self-control. The theory has been used over time to explain a wide range of human beings’ intentions and health behaviours, such as drinking, smoking, and substance abuse. The behavioural achievements noted in human beings depend on motivation and their ability to undertake certain activities. It helps to distinguish various beliefs that include control, normative, and behavioural.

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Components

The theory of planned behavioural components includes social norms, attitudes, intentions, and perceived behavioural control. Social norms are the customary codes of behaviour that are noted in a group of people. Human beings tend to engage in certain behaviours when they are under pressure when they want to meet the requirements that are underlined by normative social influence (Hassan et al., 2018). When handling the components of social norms, it is essential to know the descriptive norms and the practices followed by people when they are not familiar with a given situation (Fischer et al., 2019).

The normative values cover the shared undertakings on the activities considered by people to be forbidden or obligatory. Based on these assertions, human beings decide on whether a behaviour is normal, typical, or effective by making the observation of the various behaviours that are displayed by the people that are around them. Therefore, social norms highlighted by the theory of planned behaviour are a social interaction mechanism that enables people to understand what is good in society (Hassan & Shiu, 2017). Some scholars claim that there is a positive correlation between social norms and behavioural intentions that are depicted in contexts of pro-environmental behaviour.

Attitudes

The attitude covers the degree to which an individual tends to have an unfavourable or favourable evaluation of the behaviour that is under interest by making consideration of outcomes that will be realized by performing a given behaviour. Psychologists believe that attitudes are inherent psychological property that is made of effective and cognitive tendencies that show persistence and consistent actions. Under the behavioural change system, it is essential to ensure that human beings manage to get additional information on matters relating to the environment (Bohon et al., 2016). If the details can help to raise the situations of an environment, they will become aware of the prevailing situation and develop positive attitudes towards it.

They will manage to exhibit elements that are suitable for the prevailing conditions and depict pro-environmental behaviour. There exists a positive attitude between pro-environmental behaviour and environmental attitudes. There is a need to undertake investigations on the attitudes that people have towards behaviour recycling instead of the views that they hold towards the environment. According to the planned behaviour theoretical model, attitudes are defined as the judgments that human beings make on the elements they like or dislike. People are likely to show a high level of behaviour intention in an activity that they like.

Perceived Behavioural Control

The perceived behavioural controls are the perceptions held by human beings on their ability to engage in a given behaviour. The performance of a given behaviour by human beings is generally influenced by the availability of resources and the ability of people to control the barriers that are making them unable to engage in an action. There is a significant urge to engage in certain activities when resources are adequate, and the number of elements that limit the undertaking of activity is reduced.

Human beings may have the intent to change and maintain healthy behaviour, but this may fail due to the environment that they are living in at the moment. It is essential to ensure that human behaviour is controlled. The opportunities and resources that are available to an individual should help in dictating behavioural achievement. Perceived behavioural control tends to have a significant impact on human actions and intentions (Tornikoski & Maalaoui, 2019). It is critical to note that the theory of planned behaviour is different from the theory of reasoned action and this can be shown by the perceived behavioural control inclusion in the TPB.

Human beings have the perception of the difficulty or ease that exists when faced with the intent to perform the behaviour of interest. Therefore, this shows that perceived behavioural control can vary based on actions or situations. There is a possibility that an individual may believe that their outcomes are controlled by their behaviour, but in the real sense, this may not be the case.

Intentions

The behaviour intention covers the motivational factors that tend to influence a given behaviour. When the intention to undertake a given action is high, there is a better probability that the behaviour will be undertaken (Zakaria et al., 2016). Perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, and attitudes are critical in determining behavioural intention. There exists a strong association between the actual performance of a behaviour and behavioural intention though the connection is dependent on the volitional control (Anderson et al., 2017). The degree upon which an individual has complete control to make a decision at will on whether they should perform or not perform a behaviour. Intervention strategies that help minimise barriers or reinforce facilitators are highly likely to lead to cases of sustained behaviour change in comparison to activities that do not address the subjective norm or attitude.

Differences

The behaviouristic approach that is directed towards human motivation helps to examine the way that motives are learned and the process that is involved in facilitating the interaction between external goals and internal drives supporting the generation of behaviour. Motivation is a significant component that leads to the formation of behaviour. In the case of the behavioural perspective, there are assumptions that a significant number of behaviours of interest to social and behavioural activities are under the case of volitional control with strong perceptions of control (Alam et al., 2019). Individuals who are inclined towards engaging in a certain behaviour of interest are likely to undertake it. Additionally, they have a high capability level of failing to undertake it if they want. It is an indication that the performance of a behaviour has a direct effect on behavioural intentions.

The theory of planned behaviours helps people to engage in mental health services due to its inability to link people’s behaviour and beliefs. The values and assertions that people hold towards the issue of mental illness enable them to either engage in the activity or not. When an individual’s behaviour is inclined towards helping others with the belief that a mental problem is an ailment, they are likely to offer the intended assistance (Ho & Sun, 2016). The attitude that people portray, the behavioural control, and subject norms manage to shape their behavioural intention and the measures they can take towards managing their mental health problems. According to the theory, the possibility of an individual helping in the case of a mental health problem is directly correlated to their intention to engage in such an act (Halder et al., 2016).

Culture has a connection to the norms and social behaviours that are shown by human beings. It handles the beliefs, attitudes, customs, and habits that are depicted by people in society. It is an indication that the element of culture adopted in a given community directly relates to the Theory of Planned Behaviour assertions (Powell et al., 2016). Through relying on cultural beliefs and values, individuals are highly likely to be motivated to help in handling and managing mental health services. Through planned behaviours and the cultural values and beliefs that are shown by people, they are motivated to help in the management of mental health services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the theory of planned behaviours manages to provide a prediction of actions that individuals want to take to make sure that they are exerting self-control. The theory is utilized in offering explanations of the actions taken by various individuals and their intentions. The motivation that people have towards taking a given activity is affected by their motivation level. The actions that people desire, they are highly likely to implement those activities though they have the power to fail to undertake them when they want. Some of the components involved in the Theory of Planned Behaviour include attitudes, social norms, intentions, and perceived behavioural control.

People who have the desire to help are likely to engage in activities that involve finding solutions to the mental health problems. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between culture and the theory of planned behaviours. They both cover the values, attitudes, and beliefs that are noted among people in society, and this is an indication that based on culture, it is possible to explain the behaviours shown in people as they seek ways of finding solutions to the problems prevailing in the community.

References

Alam, M. Z., Kousar, S., & Rehman, C. A. (2019). Role of entrepreneurial motivation on entrepreneurial intentions and behaviour: theory of planned behaviour extension on engineering students in Pakistan. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 9(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-019-0175-1

Anderson, S. D., Leyland, S. D., & Ling, J. (2017). Gender differences in motivation for participation in extra-curricular dance: application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Research in Dance Education, 18(2), 150-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2017.1330325

Bohon, L. M., Cotter, K. A., Kravitz, R. L., Cello, P. C., & Fernandez y Garcia, E. (2016). The Theory of Planned Behavior it predicts potential intention to seek mental health services for depression among college students. Journal of American College Health, 64(8), 593–603. https://doi-org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/10.1080/07448481.2016.1207646

Fischer, R., Karl, J. A., & Fischer, M. V. (2019). Norms across cultures: A cross-cultural meta-analysis of norms effects in the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 50(10), 1112-1126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022119846409

Halder, P., Pietarinen, J., Havu-Nuutinen, S., Pöllänen, S., & Pelkonen, P. (2016). The Theory of Planned Behavior model and students' intentions to use bioenergy: A cross-cultural perspective. Renewable Energy, 89, 627-635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.023

Hassan, L. M., & Shiu, E. (2017). The role of national cultural values within the theory of planned behaviour. In The Customer is NOT Always Right? Marketing Orientations in a Dynamic Business World (pp. 813-813). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50008-9_223

Hassan, M. U., Iqbal, A., & Iqbal, Z. (2018). Factors affecting the adoption of Internet banking in Pakistan: An integration of technology acceptance model and theory of planned behaviour. International Journal of Business Information Systems, 28(3), 342-370. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBIS.2018.092530

Ho, R. T. K., & Sun, X. Y. (2016). Overweight/obesity-related attitudes and self-care behaviours: Evaluation and comparison of the protection motivation model and theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.1017/prp.2015.5