VOLITIONAL THEORY OF HEALTH-EDUCATION

The author presents new theoretical considerations which may contribut e to a stimulation of research in health education and which may have an impact on the practice of health education. In this, he differentia tes phases of the process of self-regulation which leads to either haz ardous or healthy behavior. The initial phase of motivation is charact erized by the weighing of alternatives and ends with the formulation o f objectives. In the subsequent phase of volition, an intention is tra nslated into an attempt at action and the healthy behavior is kept up despite obstacles. In this, competence expectation again proves an imp ortant influence. In a final part, consequences for health education a re being discussed.