The Science of Behaviour Change

What is the Science of Change?

The Science of Change describes the critical processes that are involved in bringing about REAL change in human behaviour.

Change itself encompasses many different conceptual ideas and includes:

• Cognitive change for improved emotional outcomes.
• Habitual change for modifying or irradicating unwanted habits.
• Psychological change for overcoming mental health problems.
• Aspirational change for achieving personal goals and targets.

Achieving real and sustainable change can only be realised through behavioural change.

As a result, what this means is that you cannot change without doing something differently and doing things differently is bound up in the way that you behave.

Therefore, successful change is defined as change at the behavioural level.

What Steps Does Change Involve?

Effective change has been scientifically described by a group of researchers who developed the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change (TTM) which has been proven to predict successful outcomes.

When comparing those who have achieved their goals with those who have failed, the most significant factor appears to be those who followed the steps described in the Behaviour Change Framework.

The Behaviour Change Framework

Change is achieved over several distinct phases:

• Pre-contemplation (Recognising a problem exists, but making no effort to do anything about it).
• Contemplation (Thinking about making changes and perhaps even talking to a professional about how that might happen).
• Preparation (Becoming aware of the process of change and preparing to start taking action).
• Action (Thinking and behaving in new ways in accordance with the prescribed steps).
• Maintenance (Managing lapses in behaviour before they become re-lapses).
• Termination (Having fully habituated new ways of thinking and behaving the change steps can be stopped).

The research shows that each different phase of change needs to follow the previous in the right sequence, and also that different tools, methods and processes occur within those phases.

Indeed, using the wrong processes at any given phase of change, is likely to result in failure.

Consequently, using the correct tools at the correct time (step-matching) is critical to achieving change.

Behaviour Change in Drug Use - An Example

The Transtheoretical Model of Change provides a valuable framework for understanding the journey of individuals grappling with drug use, highlighting that change is seldom a linear process but a series of evolving stages.

From the initial phase of pre-contemplation, where individuals may not even recognise the detrimental impacts of their substance use, to contemplation, where they begin to weigh the benefits of change, this model illustrates the gradual awakening to the need for transformation.

As individuals move into preparation, they start planning actionable steps, which paves the way for the action phase, where they actively implement new strategies and behaviours to combat their drug use.

Throughout this journey, maintenance plays a crucial role in reinforcing positive changes and navigating potential lapses, ultimately guiding individuals toward termination, where new, healthier habits become fully ingrained in their lives.

By tailoring interventions to align with each of these stages, we can empower individuals to embrace change at their own pace, fostering resilience and sustainable recovery in their battle against drug use.

The Science of Change at Tranceform

Wherever possible, we try to deliver the principles of change defined in the behaviour change framework with all of our clients and across all of our different therapeutic approaches.