In this theory, physical and social environments are influential in reinforcing and shaping the beliefs that determine behavior. Self efficacy, an essential component of the theory, is the person's belief that he or she is capable of performing the new behavior in the proposed situation. The Risk Reduction Model suggests that, in order to change behavior, a person must label the behavior as risky, make a commitment to reduce the behavior, and take action to perform the desired change. Diffusion of Innovation helps people understand how new ideas or behaviors are introduced and become accepted by a community. People in the same community adopt new behaviors at different rates and respond to different methods of intervention.
Different stages exist in the same population.
People do not necessarily pass through stages sequentially and they may repeat stages. Harm Reduction accepts that harmful behaviors exist, and that the main goal is to reduce their negative behaviors and attitudes of the individual to offer ways to decrease negative consequences. Paulo Freire's ideas on Popular Education are based on the belief that teachers and students have different strengths and should learn reciprocally from each other. Group discussions examine problems and develop solutions to empower people to change their environment and thereby influence their subsequent actions. Also available in Spanish.