2019/07/25 by Icek Ajzen, Arie W. Kruglanski · 484 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Action (physics) #Artificial intelligence #Behavior change #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Cognitive psychology #Computer science #Context (archaeology) #Control (management) #Explanatory power #Goal orientation #Goal pursuit #Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports #Predictive power #PsycINFO #Psychology #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Social psychology #Theory of planned behavior #Theory of reasoned action
paper · doi:10.1037/rev0000155
published in Psychological Review 126(5), 774-786 (American Psychological Association)
openalex publication_date 2019/07/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The theory of planned behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991, 2012), used widely for the prediction and modification of human actions, is behavior centered. According to the TPB, behavioral intentions, the immediate precursors of behavior, are determined by attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm with respect to the behavior, and perceived control over the behavior. In contrast, goal systems theory (GST; Kruglanski et al., 2002) is goal centered. It assumes that behavior typically serves as a means to an individual's goals. To extend the TPB's range of application and augment its explanatory and predictive power, we integrate these two theoretical perspectives in a proposed theory of reasoned goal pursuit. We conclude that the formation of a behavioral intention is determined by motivation to perform a behavior in light of alternative options and in the context of the individual's currently active goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).