Which options represent the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior?

Which options represent the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior?

• A. Attitudes toward the behavior, perceived behavioral control.
• B. Subjective norms and attitudes only.
• C. Attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.
• D. Intention and behavior only.

Answer: (C)

The Theory of Planned Behavior explains behavior through intention, which is shaped by three factors: attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Attitudes reflect how positively or negatively someone evaluates performing the behavior. Subjective norms capture perceived social pressure—what important people think one should do. Perceived behavioral control represents how easy or controllable the person perceives performing the behavior to be, including confidence in their ability. These three determinants together form the main drivers of intention, which in turn predicts behavior (with perceived behavioral control also able to influence behavior directly in some cases). The option that lists these three components—attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—best captures the theory’s structure. The other options omit one or more determinants or treat intention/behavior as the primary components, which doesn’t align with how the model explains the relationship between beliefs, intention, and action.

The Theory of Planned Behavior explains behavior through intention, which is shaped by three factors: attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Attitudes reflect how positively or negatively someone evaluates performing the behavior. Subjective norms capture perceived social pressure—what important people think one should do. Perceived behavioral control represents how easy or controllable the person perceives performing the behavior to be, including confidence in their ability. These three determinants together form the main drivers of intention, which in turn predicts behavior (with perceived behavioral control also able to influence behavior directly in some cases). The option that lists these three components—attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—best captures the theory’s structure. The other options omit one or more determinants or treat intention/behavior as the primary components, which doesn’t align with how the model explains the relationship between beliefs, intention, and action.