Use of mental simulations to change theory of planned behaviour variables

Abstract

Objectives The predictive validity of the theory of planned behaviour is well established, but much less is known about: (a) whether there are causal relationships between key components of the model and (b) how to go about changing the theory of planned behaviour variables. This study tested the ability of outcome and process simulations to change variables specified in the theory of planned behaviour in relation to blood donation. Design Participants (N = 146) were randomized to one of four conditions: outcome simulation only, process simulation only, process‐plus‐outcome simulation and a distractor control condition. The dependent variables were state anxiety, and intention attitude, subjective norm and perceived control from the theory of planned behaviour. Methods Participants were asked to empty their mind and visualize themselves: (a) after donating blood (outcome manipulation), (b) preparing to donate blood (process manipulation), (c) both preparing to donate blood and after having donated blood (process‐plus‐outcome manipulation) or (d) both preparing to get a high mark and after having got a high mark on their course (control condition). Following mental rehearsal, participants completed the dependent variables. Results There were no main effects of outcome simulation, but process simulation successfully increased intention, subjective norm and perceived control. There was also a significant outcome simulation × process simulation interaction for attitude. The effect of the process manipulation on intention was mediated by subjective norm and perceived control. Conclusions The findings show promise for the use of mental simulations in changing cognitions and further research is required to extend the present findings to other health behaviours.

Evidence that process simulations reduce anxiety in patients receiving dental treatment: randomized exploratory trial

“…In contrast, process simulations involve mentally simulating the process of achieving the goal -for the person trying to lose weight, this might involve imagining signing up to exercise classes, imagining removing fatty snacks from the diet and/or imagining increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. The evidence supports the idea that process simulations are more effective than outcome simulations in changing people's behavior: Pham and Taylor (1999) showed that students who used process simulations achieved significantly higher exam grades than did students using outcome simulations, and Armitage and Reidy (2008) found that process simulations significantly increased students' motivation to donate blood in contrast with outcome simulations.…”

“…Armitage and Reidy, 2008;Pham & Taylor, 1999). Given that self-efficacy both manages anxiety in dental contexts (e.g.…”

Visualisation for increasing health intentions: Enhanced effects following a health message and when using a first-person perspective

“…Armitage and Reidy (2008) did not assess planning, so the present research will contribute to previous work by examining whether the effects of health-related visualisation on intentions are mediated by planning, in addition to TPB variables such as subjective norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC), relative to a control group who do not visualise.…”

“…These studies had participants imagine a "future exercising self" (e.g., Ouellette, Hessling, Gibbons, Reis-Bergan & Gerard, 2005), mentally contrast a desired future health goal with present reality (e.g., Johanessen, Oettingen & Mayer, 2012), or visualise implementation intentions (Knäuper, McCollam, Rosen-Brown, Lacaille, Kelso & Roseman, 2011). In addition, Armitage and Reidy (2008) showed that visualising the process of donating blood was beneficial in increasing intentions to donate blood in the future, but visualising the outcome of donating blood was not. Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991) as a framework for understanding the effects of process versus outcome simulations, Armitage and Reidy demonstrated that the beneficial effects of process simulations on intentions were mediated by increased subjective norms and perceived behavioural control with respect to donating blood.…”

Visualizing actions from a third‐person perspective: effects on health behavior and the moderating role of behavior difficulty

“…The beneficial effect of visualizing actions from the third-person perspective holds obvious appeal for those interested in promoting health behaviors: Visualization has been shown to have reliable effects in other domains, such as sports performance (Driskell, Cooper, & Moran, 1994), and there are indications that it may be effective in motivating changes in health behavior (Armitage & Reidy, 2008;Hagger, Lonsdale, & Chatzisarantis, 2011;Ouellette, Hessling, Gibbons, Reis-Bergan, & Gerrard, 2005;Knauper, McCollam, RosenBrown, Lacaille, Kelso, & Roseman, 2011). It therefore seems possible that the use of the third-person perspective could enhance these effects.…”