In Search of How People Change

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 transtheoretical constructs of stages and processes of change. Modification of addictive behaviors involves progression through five stages—precontemplation, 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 tages as well as for a finite and common set of change processes used to progress through the stages. Research to date supports a transtheoretical model of change that systematically integrates the stages with processes of change from diverse theories of psychotherapy.REFERENCES Abrams, D. B. , Follicle, M. J. , & Biener, L. (1988, November). Individual versus g roup self-help smoking cessation at the workplace: Initial impact and 12-month outcomes. In T. Glynn (Chair), Four National Cancer Institute-funded self-help smoking cessation trials: Interim results and emerging patterns. Symposium conducted at the annual eeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New York. Beitman, B. D. (1986).