Why do we behave the way we do?

Changing high risk behaviours involves progress through six stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and termination. Stage-matched programs for cardiovascular disease prevention can produce much higher participation rates than traditional action-oriented programs (80 to 85% versus 1 to 5%). The amount of success following intervention is directly related to the state of change participants are in before intervention. Helping people progress through the stages involves matching particular processes and principles of change to particular stages of change.