In Search of How People Change: Applications to Addictive Behaviors.
Prochaska, James O. 1,4; DiClemente, Carlo C. 2; Norcross, John C. 3
[Article] American Psychologist. 47(9):1102-1114, September 1992.

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How people intentionally change addictive behaviors with and without treatment is not well understood by behavioral scientists. This article summarizes research on self-initiated and professionally facilitated change of addictive behaviors using the key transtheoretical constructs of stages and processes of change. Modification of addictive behaviors involves progression through five stages-precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance-and individuals typically recycle through these stages several times before termination of the addiction. Multiple studies provide strong support for these stages as well as for a finite and common set of change processes used to progress through the stages. Research to date supports a transtheoretical model of change that systematically integrates the stages with processes of change from diverse theories of psychotherapy.

(C) 1992 by the American Psychological Association