6 stage model

• Who came up with the 6 stage model?

  Proshka and Diclemente (1983)
• What are the insights the 6 stage model is based on?

  • People who are addicted differ in how ready they are to change their behaviour
  • How useful a treatment is depends on the stage a person has reached
• What are the 6 stages?

  • Precontemplation
  • Contemplation
  • Preparation
  • Action
  • Maintenance
  • Termination
• What happens during precontemplation?


  Not thinking about changing behaviour
• What happens during contemplation?


  Thinking about changing behaviour in the next 6 months
• What happens during preparation?


  Sees that the benefits of giving up outweigh the costs
• What happens during action?


  Something is done to change behaviour
• What happens during maintenance?


  A change in behaviour is kept for more than 6 months
• What happens during termination?

  Abstinence becomes automatic
• Why do some people not reach termination?

  For many the goal is to just prolong maintenance, accepting relapse is inevitable
• Who says stage-based approaches aren’t any more effective than alternatives to treating nicotine addiction?

  Taylor (2006)

  Cahill (2010)
• According to Kraft, what can the stages be reduced to?

  Two stages, precontemplation and the rest grouped together
• What is an issue with prediction?

  Not a good predictor of who is going to make changes

  How valid is it if it can’t predict outcomes?
• What is a positive of the 6 stage model?

  Emphasises the fact that overcoming an addiction is a continuous process

  Can go between stages