Association of Social Work Boards Masters (ASWB MSW) Practice Exam

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During which stage of change does an individual take direct action toward achieving a goal?

  1. Pre-contemplation

  2. Contemplation

  3. Action

  4. Preparation

The correct answer is: Action

First, let us provide context on what the stages of change are. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) describes five stages of change which include pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Each stage represents a different level of readiness for change and an individual can move back and forth between these stages. Option A, pre-contemplation, is the stage where the individual has no intention of changing their behavior in the foreseeable future. This means they are not yet ready to take direct action towards achieving a goal. Option B, contemplation, is the stage where the individual is considering making a change but has not yet committed to taking action. This means they are not yet taking direct action towards achieving a goal. Option D, preparation, is the stage where the individual is making specific plans to take action within the near future. Although this is a step closer to