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In their evaluation of people who smoke who had succeeded in stopping, Prochaska and DiClemente observed that the people who smoke had moved by means of distinct levels. If you’ve ever tried to vary a conduct — comparable to weight-reduction plan, stopping smoking, endeavoring to get extra train, or the like — these will appear very acquainted.
Precontemplation
Precontemplation: the individual has not but contemplated or considered altering his/her conduct. (The main phrase right here is “yet” — as a result of the entire level of understanding levels of change is to discover ways to nudge people alongside the trail in the direction of lasting conduct change.)
Some precontemplators are really unaware of the results of their conduct (e.g., “you can’t get an STD from oral sex.” Others might concentrate on the results however do not see any relevance to themselves personally (e.g., “I know you can get HIV from having unsafe sex, but it’s really a disease that only gay men get. I’m not gay so I don’t need to worry about it.”) A shorter time period for this example is “denial.”
Contemplation
Contemplation stage: the individual is taking the first incremental steps in the direction of conduct change. He or she has a larger and extra correct understanding of the professionals and cons of adjusting the conduct, however shouldn’t be but prepared to vary as a result of the cons appear to outweigh the professionals (e.g., “I know I ought to use condoms, but they ruin the moment and take away from the feeling.”) The contemplation stage can final for six months or extra, and sometimes the individual could be so ambivalent that she or he appears “stuck” on this stage.
Preparation
Preparation stage: a person is on the brink of take motion comparatively quickly — inside a month. This signifies that she or he has some type of plan, whether or not it’s to hitch an train or smoking cessation class, speak to a physician or counselor, purchase condoms and put them by the bedside, or take one other particular step.
Action
Action stage: a person tries to vary a conduct. Examples embrace stopping smoking, consuming numerous meals, exercising, or utilizing condoms. Note that earlier than the Stages of Change mannequin emerged, this motion step was the one marker of conduct change. In this mannequin, nevertheless, it is only one of six steps. Although it’s vitally necessary, it’s no extra so than the opposite levels.
Maintenance
As beforehand talked about, one of many main insights of the Stages of Change mannequin is its consideration to relapse — not as a failure to vary conduct however as a chance to study from unsuccessful makes an attempt and thus improve the probabilities of success sooner or later.
For one to keep away from slipping again into previous behaviors — notably for addictive behaviors however for different behaviors as nicely — the method of change might require months and even years of vigilance. Therefore, the motion stage is adopted by a protracted upkeep part through which the conduct is extra firmly and completely adopted (e.g., utilizing condoms appropriately and persistently).
This part permits one to study extra about why the conduct is so difficult to vary. Better understanding will increase the chances that future makes an attempt at change will probably be profitable.
Termination
For many people, the upkeep stage lasts endlessly. Some people who smoke and alcoholics, For instance will all the time struggle at the very least an occasional longing for a cigarette or a drink. The Stages of Change mannequin accepts this example as regular. But for some people and a few behaviors, the conduct change is so full that they attain a stage of “zero temptation and 100% self-efficacy.” This means they’ve full confidence that they will keep the conduct change endlessly, in any state of affairs. This is the perfect however shouldn’t be essential for fulfillment and is uncommon for a lot of behaviors. For this purpose, many descriptions of Stages of Change embrace solely the first 5 levels.
To see how every stage may apply to a conduct change state of affairs, think about how the Stages of Change would search for somebody in danger for Sexually Transmitted Diseases however not presently utilizing condoms.1
The Stages of Change
Precontemplation
Characteristics
• No intention to vary
• Unaware of drawback or danger
Sample Statement
• “I may have a lot of different sexual partners, but I don’t need to use condoms because my partners are healthy.”
Contemplation
Characteristics
• Aware of drawback
• Would think about change, however no particular person packages or dedication
• Ambivalence; feeling “stuck”
Sample Statement
• “I know I ought to wear a condom, but sex isn’t the same when I wear one.”
Preparation
Characteristics
• Plan to take motion quickly
• May have tried earlier than
Sample Statement
• “I bought some condoms and I’ve decided to talk to my partner about endeavoring them.”
Action
Characteristics
• Take concrete steps to deal with drawback, however conduct change just isn’t constant but
Sample Statement
• “We used a condom for the 1st time, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. We’ll use them again.”
Maintenance
Characteristics
• Generally freed from addictive or drawback conduct
• Engage in new, healthful conduct
• May relapse, however settle for and decide to new conduct as a part of day by day life and routine
Sample Statement
• “I use condoms all the time now with my current partner; it’s not a big deal for us … although I will have to talk to any new partners about it.”
Termination
Characteristics
• Not tempted to return to addictive or drawback conduct
• Complete confidence in capacity to take care of conduct change perpetually in any state of affairs
Sample Statement
• “I will always use a condom with my current and with all new partners.”
1 Adapted from: Samuelson, M. Stages of Change: From Theory to Practice. The Art of Health Promotion [newsletter]. Vol. 2, No. 5, November/December 1998 and STD/HIV Prevention Training Center Participant Manual: Bridging Theory & Practice.
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Source by Ravi Verma
