Think it, plan it, do it?

 The Theory of Planned Behavior is how social psychologist explain our behavior. Through our attitudes about said behavior, the subjective norm surrounding that behavior, and our control around the behavior (Ajzen, 1991). With those things in mind, they combine together to create intention of the behavior, and then with that it will lead to the action of the behavior (Ajzen, 1991). On the attitude portion of this model, it refers to a person's positive or negative thoughts of performing a behavior (Ajzen, 1991). For example, if someone believes that exercising regularly is good for health, they are likely to have a positive attitude towards it, and if someone believes that exercising is against their religion; you can presume that they have a negative attitude for it. With subjective norms, these are ideas about whether our peers approve or disapprove of this behavior (Ajzen, 1991). To keep going with the previous example, if your friends or family encourage you to exercise, you would feel more inclined to exercise. Focusing on control which is known as "Perceived Behavior Control," this relates to a person's beliefs about how easy or difficult it is to perform said behavior (Ajzen, 1991). Yes, it is difficult to work out, but if you have the gym equipment then it is easier for a person to exercise. 

The Theory of Planned Behavior makes plenty of sense to me considering I see it being used in everyday life. Weather girls use it during gossip time or when people are trying to give out a pros and cons list. But I definitely use it for my recycling. Now people who know me know that I am a big recycler, and I intend to keep recycling, and I will intend to correct everyone I see not playing their part into it. I love the fact of recycling because it also makes more room in the trash because now you have two trash cans, now because I have a positive attitude towards recycling that checks off the first section of the theory. Since my mother always pressed me to recycle, and we always here that everyone needs to play their part in saving the earth (this is my part); that checks of the social norms because I grew up around people who recycle. Leading to the next part, my hometown gave everyone a trash can and a recycling bin, as well as the dorms here have recycling bins in each room as well as each floor, that leads to me having easier access to recycle. Therefore, completing the cycle of my behavior of recycling. At the end of the day this theory by Ajzen (1991), seems completely spot on.

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References:

Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211

Honor Code:

I have acted with honesty and integrity while producing this work and I am unaware of those who have not.

Sirena Sauceda

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