When was the Stages of Change Model developed?

The Stages of Change Model, also known as the Transtheoretical Model, was developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by psychologists James O. Prochaska and Carlo C. DiClemente. This model outlines a process that individuals go through when making behavioral changes, which includes stages such as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

This foundational work emerged from their research on smoking cessation, which revealed that people move through these stages at different rates and that interventions should be tailored according to the person's current stage. By understanding these stages, counselors and therapists can provide more effective support and actionable strategies that align with the individual's readiness to change, significantly enhancing treatment outcomes in various behavioral health contexts, including substance use. The model's applicability across different behaviors has solidified its importance in both psychological research and practical counseling settings.