Theory of Planned Behaviour in Social Psychology

Running head: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Social Psychology
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SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY1
The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), of Icek Ajzen is an extension of the Theory
of Reasoned Action (TRA). It is basically involved in the explanation of the individual
behaviour and their ability to have self-control. It explains a variety of health behaviours of a
person and their intentions such as smoking, substance use, and also utilization of the health
services. According to Asare (2015), it also takes into concern the psychological behaviour of
the individual, and distinguishes between the three kind of human beliefs like normative,
control as well as behavioural. The individual attitudes and the manner in which the people
react to the outcomes of the situations helps to understand and apprehend the person’s actual
control over their own behaviour, and how one can adapt and change the behaviour of others
(Baumeister, 1987). The theory of planned behaviour has a major role in the change of
attitude of the individuals. Also according to Baumeister (1987), attitudes towards any person
speaks of the behaviour of the individual and also the evaluation of the results, and the
outcome of the situation. The theory has a wide application in the behavioural solicitations in
the social psychology of an individual. The theory of planned behaviour maintains the
postulates of the theory of reasoned action which says that the attitudes and the behavioural
intentions play a role in governing the human behaviour (Bond, Fariss, & Jones, 2012).
As discussed by Ajzen (1991), the social psychological theories can be applied to the
areas of social problems deal with the psychological aspects such as crime, racism,
environmental pollution and others. Social psychology has a numerous subjects upon which it
can be researched upon. These include the social cognition which is basically closely related
to the field of cognitive philosophy and the concept of how the thing swill work in future.
Also the studies of attitudes in where the social psychological theory can be applicable. How
the attitudes change and how they develop are one of the main concerns of the social
psychological theory. Ajzen (1991) also says, social psychologists also apply the theories of
social psychology to the areas of human aggression and violence. Also the prosaically

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY2
behavioural patterns and in the areas of prejudice and discrimination the social psychological
theories are applicable, to solve the real life problems regarding the behaviour of the
individuals in the perceptions of social identities and social experiences. According to
Baumeister (1987), since social relationships play a very important role shaping one’s
behaviour and the attitude, the social psychological theories can be applied to the
interpersonal relationships. According to Greaves, Zibarras & Stride (2013), the applied
social psychology uses the social psychology principles to resolve the social dilemmas, to
change the social norms as well as in inducing hypocrisy.
According to Jonas & Lebherz (2008), the nature of behavioural problems differ from
person to person and the target audience involved can be individuals from all age groups.
Behavioural problems is primarily described in terms of its frequency, its nature and the
severity as well as the duration. Behavioural problems such as physical aggression, property
destruction, self-injury and the tantrums are the major barriers in an individual’s social and
emotional development (Jonas & Lebherz, 2008). The definitions of the problem behaviour is
depended on whether the behaviour is considered from the perspective of a children or from
the perspective of an elder one, or the parent. Thus the target audience and the interplay
between them and the behavioural problems make the use of social psychological theories
mandatory. As discussed by Macrae & Bodenhausen (2001), these theories are all about
understanding an individual from the perspective of a social context and their behaviour. The
concepts like the social cognition, the social influence, the interpersonal processes and the
aggression and attitudes help to judge the behavioural problems and make use of the theory
of the planned behaviour model to change the attitude of the individuals concerned towards
the situation. According to a study conducted by Asare (2015), the Theory of Planned
Behaviour determines the behavioural problems of the students in the college, which
involved the use of condoms.