The Transtheoretical Model, or Stages of Change employs a spiraling or cyclical movement reflecting a person's stage of readiness to change.  Self-change depends on doing the right thing (use of developmental processes) at the right time (developmental stages).  This model employs the key concepts of many  other models and theories at different times or stages.  Currently, this is one of the brightest hopes for voluntary behavior change as the tailoring of interventions to match a person's stage of readiness occurs in a step-wise fashion.  The stages include:  

1. Precontemplation (not active and have no intention to become active)
2. Contemplation (not active but intend to become active soon)
3. Preparation (not truly active but have taken step to become active)
4. Action (have become active and intend to stay active)
5. Maintenance (have been active for some time and intend to continue)
6. Relapse (was active, am not currently, but intend to be active again soon)

Key Concepts: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, relapse, processes of change.

Click here to see flow diagram of model.

Key Authors: Prochaska, DiClemente, Norcross. 1982, 1984, 1992.   Marcus 1992.