What is the psychological theory of planned behavior?

• A. It evaluates the outcomes of past behaviors only
• B. It predicts an individual’s intention based on past experiences and emotions
• C. It predicts an individual's intention to engage in a behavior based on attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control
• D. It focuses solely on genetic predispositions in behavior

Answer: (C)

The psychological theory of planned behavior emphasizes that an individual's intention to engage in a specific behavior is influenced by three key components: attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms regarding the behavior, and perceived behavioral control.

Attitudes refer to the individual's positive or negative evaluation of performing the behavior. Subjective norms pertain to the perceived social pressure to perform or not perform the behavior, reflecting the influence of family, friends, and society. Lastly, perceived behavioral control relates to the individual's belief in their ability to execute the behavior, which can be based on past experiences and resources available to them.

This framework is particularly useful in understanding how individuals make decisions and engage in behaviors, as it encapsulates both internal factors (individual attitudes and beliefs) and external factors (social influences) that contribute to intention formation. As such, it provides a comprehensive model for predicting how likely someone is to take action, taking into account a broader range of influences than simply past behaviors or genetics.