How Change Is Created

The image outlines a conceptual model for how change is created, which aligns closely with various psychological and behavioral models of change, most notably the Transtheoretical (TTM) of behavior change. Here’s how the stages from the image map onto this model:

1. Idea- This could be seen as the pre-contemplation stage in TTM, where there’s no intention to change behavior in the foreseeable future, often due to a lack of awareness or resistance.

2. Thoughts—We are Moving towards the Contemplation stage, where individuals are seriously thinking about change but have not yet made a commitment to take action.

3. Feelings—This might relate to the emotional response when entering the Preparation stage, where tiny steps are being considered, and emotional investment in the idea of change occurs.

4. Plan—This directly corresponds to the Preparation stage in TTM, where individuals are ready to take action and begin taking small steps toward change.

5. Habits – This aligns with the Action stage, where individuals have actively adopted new behaviors and are working on modifying their behavior, experiences, or environment to overcome their problems.

6. Commitment—This could be seen as a continuation of the Action stage but also as moving into Maintenance, where the focus is on preventing relapse and consolidating the gains from the changes made.

7. Lifestyle – This stage would fall under Maintenance in TTM, where the new behavior is integrated into the person’s lifestyle, and they work to prevent relapse but with less intensity than in the Action stage.

8. Change—This represents the Termination stage in TTM, where individuals have zero temptation and are sure they will not return to their old behavior. However, not all models include this stage, as change can be seen as an ongoing process rather than a final state.

This model from the image simplifies the process into a linear progression, which is helpful for conceptual understanding. However, in real life, the change process can often be more cyclical or iterative, with people moving back and forth between stages before achieving lasting change.

Each stage requires different progression strategies, and understanding where one is in this journey can help tailor interventions, whether for personal growth, organizational change, or health behavior modification.