ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a core component of the transtheoretical model of behavioral change?

1. Decisional balance

2. Self-efficacy

3. Operant conditioning

4. Processes of change

The correct answer is: Operant conditioning

The core components of the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavioral change include concepts such as decisional balance, self-efficacy, and the processes of change. Decisional balance refers to the individual's weighing of the pros and cons of changing a behavior. Self-efficacy pertains to an individual's belief in their capability to execute the behaviors necessary to produce a desired outcome. The processes of change encompass the strategies and techniques that can be employed to facilitate movement through the stages of change. Operant conditioning, while an important concept in behavior modification, is not a core component of the TTM. Instead, TTM focuses more on the psychological processes involved in changing behaviors across different stages, rather than principles of reinforcement or punishment, which are central to operant conditioning. This distinction affirms that operant conditioning does not align with the foundational elements of the transtheoretical model.