Theory of Planned Fitness

As demonstrated by sociologist Richard LaPiere (1934), our attitudes do not always perfectly predict how we behave. People sometimes act in ways that don't fully align with their beliefs. To better explain this gap, Icek Ajzen proposed the Theory of Planned Behavior (1991), suggesting that behavior is influenced not only by our attitudes but also by subjective norms and our perceived control of the behavior.

According to this theory, behavior is predicted by a person’s intention, which is shaped by three factors. Attitudes, or our positive or negative evaluations of something or someone, help shape these intentions. In general, attitudes that are stronger and more specific are better predictors of behavior because they’re more accessible in memory through priming. Moreover, subjective norms also influence behaviors. The social pressures and expectations we experience from others—such as friends or family—can strongly affect the choices we make. Lastly, perceived control/self-efficacy refers to how much control or ability a person believes they have over performing a behavior. When people feel that a behavior is achievable and within their control, they are more likely to form the intention to carry it out.

Together, these three factors shape a person’s intentions, which is a predictor of whether a behavior will happen. However, strong intentions don’t always lead people to follow through on a behavior—situational factors or limits in control can get in the way. This helps explain why our attitudes and behaviors don’t always match (Ajzen, 1991).

A personal example of the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) for me is my relationship with the gym and staying active. A few years ago, even though I wanted to work out, several factors prevented me from actually going. My attitude toward the gym was ambiguous—I wanted to exercise to feel better about my body, but I also found it boring and felt insecure about being judged as a beginner. Subjective norms also discouraged me because most of my friends didn't go to the gym, so I didn’t feel motivated or encouraged to go. I also felt self-conscious about being judged by others who were more experienced at the gym. Finally, my perceived control was low because there weren’t many good gyms nearby, and I didn’t have enough money to join one, making going to the gym inconvenient. Because of these combined factors, even when I occasionally intended to go to the gym, I rarely followed through with the behavior.

Now, my situation is very different! My attitude toward exercise is much more positive because I see it as beneficial for both my physical and mental health. Additionally, subjective norms have changed too—my roommates regularly go to the gym and enjoy staying active, which provides a stronger sense of social encouragement. My perceived control has also increased, since there’s a gym available in my apartment complex, making it easy and convenient to work out. As a result, my intentions are stronger, and I find myself actually Trying Maya Best to exercise regularly and enjoying it!

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Honor Code: I have acted with honesty and integrity in producing this work and am unaware of anyone who has not. /s/ Maya Moran Piedfort

References:

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211.

LaPiere, R. T. (1934). Attitudes vs. action. Social Forces, 13(2), 230-237.