Everyone talks about living a better happier life. But what theoretical approaches can you take to change your attitude towards , say food , exercise , anger , drug and alcohol abuse.

Here are summaries of some of the top behavior change theories

:1. Transtheoretical Model (TTM): Also known as the Stages of Change model, TTM describes behavior change as a process that occurs in stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

2. Health Belief Model (HBM): HBM suggests that people’s beliefs about a health threat, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers to action, cues to action, and self-efficacy influence their readiness to take action.

3. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT): SCT emphasizes the role of social influences, observational learning, and self-efficacy in behavior change. It suggests that behavior is influenced by the interactions between personal factors, environmental factors, and behaviors.

4. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB): TPB proposes that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predict an individual’s intention to engage in a behavior, which in turn predicts actual behavior.

5. Operant Conditioning: This theory, popularized by B.F. Skinner, suggests that behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction are the main mechanisms.

6. Self-Determination Theory (SDT): SDT emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and the satisfaction of psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) in driving behavior change.

7. Social Ecological Model (SEM): SEM considers the complex interplay between individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal factors in influencing behavior. It emphasizes the importance of multiple levels of influence in behavior change interventions.

These theories could provide a framework for understanding how and why behavior change occurs, and they are often used in designing interventions to promote healthy behaviour’s. However it seems that obesity rates are soaring with allegedly 95 % of people who start a diet , failing .

The battle really is on to something that works . There are lots of stories and Instagram takes of success , but they tend to be the exception .