Abstract
How people intentionally change addictive behaviors with and without treatment is not well understood by behavioral scientists. This article summarizes research on self-initiated and professionally facilitated change of addictive behaviors using the key trans-theoretical constructs of stages and processes of change. Modification of addictive behaviors involves progression through five stages--pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance--and individuals typically recycle through these stages several times before termination of the addiction. Multiple studies provide strong support for these stages as well as for a finite and common set of change processes used to progress through the stages. Research to date supports a trans-theoretical model of change that systematically integrates the stages with processes of change from diverse theories of psychotherapy.
Keywords
AddictionContemplationPsychologyBehavior changeSet (abstract data type)Action (physics)Addictive behaviorPsychotherapistBehaviour changeSocial psychologyCognitive psychologyIntervention (counseling)EpistemologyNeurosciencePsychiatryComputer science
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1992
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1102-1114
- Citations
- 8500
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Janice Prochaska,
Carlo C. DiClemente,
John C. Norcross
(1992).
In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors..
American Psychologist
, 47
(9)
, 1102-1114.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.47.9.1102
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1037/0003-066x.47.9.1102