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Perceived Control

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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

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Synonyms

Perceived behavioral control

Definition

Perceived behavioral control is the extent to which an individual perceives that they are in control of a given target behavior. It is considered a core construct in the theory of planned behavior.

Description

Perceived behavioral control (PBC) was included in the theory of planned behavior (TPB; Ajzen 1991) in order to predict/explain behaviors that are not entirely under the volitional control of the individual. According to the TPB, PBC is determined by beliefs regarding factors that may act to facilitate or inhibit successful behavioral performance (Ajzen 1991; Conner and Armitage 1998). For example, a belief that exercising after work is associated with intractable barriers (i.e., cold weather, icy sidewalks, limited schedule) may lead to low perceived behavioral control over exercise, in turn leading to less frequent exercise during winter months. However, a belief that there are few barriers to exercising (i.e., favorable...

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References and Further Readings

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.

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  • Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 665–683.

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  • Armitage, C. J., & Connor, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40(4), 471–499.

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  • Conner, M., & Armitage, C. J. (1998). Extending the theory of planned behavior: A review and avenues for further research. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28(15), 1429–1464 Special issue: Expectancy-value models of attitude and behavior.

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  • Godin, G., & Kok, G. (1996). The theory of planned behaviour: A review of its application to health-related behaviors. American Journal of Health Promotion, 11(2), 87–98.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 3028 Burt Matthews Hall, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Peter A. Hall

  2. Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, 200, University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Chris Zehr

Authors
  1. Peter A. Hall
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  2. Chris Zehr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter A. Hall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA

    Marc Gellman

  2. Campbell University School of Pharmacy, Buies Creek, North Carolina, USA

    J. Rick Turner

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Hall, P.A., Zehr, C. (2016). Perceived Control. In: Gellman, M., Turner, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_1166-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_1166-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

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