The Theory of Planned Behavior is a framework used to understand and predict human behavior. It posits that behavior is primarily determined by an individual's behavioral intentions and perceived behavioral control in specific situations. The theory suggests that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, collectively shape an individual's behavioral intentions, and guide their rational decision-making process. Although these components may not be actively considered during the decision-making process, they nevertheless form the underlying structure of decision-making.

Human actions and behaviors are driven by expectations, interests, and motivations. Therefore, understanding human behavior helps us to identify the goals behind such activities. However, it is often challenging to identify the reasons why people behave in a particular manner because several underlying factors impact human actions and behaviors that also vary according to specific situations and settings.

The Theory of Planned Behavior highlights the three key components that influence human behavior: attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. According to this theory, assuming that an individual views a proposed behavior positively, and valuable people also support the behavior, the person's intention to act will be high. Consequently, the individual is more likely to behave in a particular way. This theory leverages an individual's own attitudes and perceptions, combined with their perceived control of the behavior and society's norms, to influence their social expectations and actions. In some cases, if a person has a negative attitude and believes they have no control over the behavior, they are less likely to engage in that behavior. Additionally, if society does not support the behavior, it could negatively impact an individual's expectation for that behavior. An individual's attitude and perceived behavioral control can negatively or positively affect their expectations and behavior, depending on their personal perspectives.

The three fundamental components of the Theory of Planned Behavior are attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as illustrated in the diagram above.

ATTITUDE

An attitude is a multidimensional construct comprising comprehension, influence, and conation. The cognitive aspect reflects an individual's knowledge about and perception of a specific attitude object, emotional reactions entail inclination towards the object, and conative responses relate to social tendencies and commitments. It indicates how positively or negatively the performance of behavior is valued. Attitude mirrors an individual's beliefs about behavior combined with the value attached to the outcome of performing the behavior.

In the Theory of Planned Behavior, attitude refers to the extent to which an individual evaluates the behavior of interest positively or negatively, by considering the outcomes of performing the behavior. It is a mental predisposition that is displayed in the appraisal of particular objects with some degree of favor or disapproval. This mental tendency intrinsically exists in each individual, covering various types and categories of assessments in cognitive, emotional, and conative forms.

An individual forms their attitude based on their beliefs about the potential outcomes. The more positive the probability of an outcome, the stronger the intention to perform the behavior will be, and vice versa: the less positive the probability of an outcome, the weaker the intention to perform the behavior will be.

SUBJECTIVE NORMS

Subjective norms refer to an individual's belief as to whether most people approve or disapprove of a given behavior. It relates to an individual's convictions about whether their peers and significant others think the person should engage in the behavior. It is an individual's perception of social expectations to adopt a specific behavior. It is influenced by the individual's normative beliefs combined with the motivation to comply - the assessment of peers' endorsement.

The way individuals approach conduct plays an important role in shaping their confidence and social beliefs. Attitude towards conduct is based on the conviction that one ought to perform a certain behavior, while subjective norms are formed by the beliefs of others in one's life. Additionally, perceived behavioral control refers to a person's ability to easily perform a behavior. This control is determined by an individual's stable beliefs, but may vary depending on the situation.

The theory of planned behavior suggests that the resources and opportunities available to an individual influence the probability of behavior success. For example, smoking is a behavior that can harm both the smoker and those around them and is influenced by personal and social factors. The attitude of a smoker towards the behavior is based on their biases, positive and negative thoughts, and past experiences. Subjective norms are based on the individual's perception of other's views on smoking, including family and friends. These norms can influence a smoker's desire to quit.

Perceived behavioral control can affect a smoker's ability to quit, as it is easier to start smoking than to stop. The smoker's attitude about the behavior can influence their likelihood of success in quitting. Positive feelings associated with smoking, such as relief from stress, can make quitting difficult. Conversely, negative feelings, such as the awareness of the harmful and expensive nature of smoking, can motivate a smoker to quit.

In conclusion, the theory of planned behavior suggests that a person's beliefs, attitudes, and social norms are essential factors that influence their behavior. In the case of smoking, personal and social factors affect one's ability to quit the habit. Therefore, understanding the components of this theory can help individuals take control of their behavior and make positive changes in their lives.

The theory of organized conduct outlines two major impacts of visible social control on how smokers perceive their behavior. The first impact involves the establishment of specific objectives for their actions. Smokers tend to believe that the more control they have over their smoking habit, the more likely they are to achieve their desired behavioral outcomes. Additionally, visible social control can have a direct influence on smokers' behavior, causing them to exert more effort towards quitting if they perceive that they have greater control over their actions. Smokers who have previously failed to quit may be less likely to attempt to quit again if they feel discouraged, but those who perceive that they have more control may be more likely to try to quit again.