91Ó°ÊÓ

In the theory of planned behavior, 'attitudes towards behavior' play a crucial role in shaping one's intentions and actions. This concept revolves around an individual's personal evaluation of a specific behavior, which can be positive or negative. For Marquel, even though he generally agrees that safe driving is important, this broad attitude might not directly influence his day-to-day decisions to wear a seat belt. An attitude needs to be clear and specific to have a strong impact on behavior.

• **Positive attitude:** Believing that a behavior has desirable outcomes.
• **Negative attitude:** Associations of the behavior with unpleasant outcomes.

That said, if Marquel has a positive and accessible attitude towards wearing seat belts specifically, he is more likely to consistently engage in wearing one. Attitudes towards a behavior must align closely with the specific actions we are examining to predict intention accurately.

Subjective norms refer to the perceived social pressures one feels about whether or not they should perform a given behavior. This is like the invisible rules we pick up from people around us. For Marquel, his friend Trevor plays a significant role in shaping these norms by consistently emphasizing the importance of wearing seat belts.

Social influence can be powerful. If Marquel perceives that important people in his life, like Trevor, expect him to wear a seat belt, he is more inclined to conform to these expectations. Here are some key points about subjective norms:

• **Influence from peers:** When peers, like friends or family, show solid support for a behavior, people are more prone to follow suit.
• **Cultural and societal norms:** Broader societal expectations also shape what we think is normal or necessary.

Thus, Trevor's advocacy creates a social expectation and pressure for Marquel to wear a seat belt, illustrating how social norms can predict behavior effectively.

Perceived behavioral control is how easy or hard a person thinks it is to perform a behavior. It includes one's belief in their ability to execute the behavior successfully. For Marquel, if he believes that remembering to wear a seat belt is challenging, it represents a low perceived behavioral control over the behavior.

Individuals are more likely to engage in a behavior when they feel they have the resources, opportunities, and skills necessary to perform it:

• **Internal control factors:** These include confidence, knowledge, or skills.
• **External control factors:** Factors such as time, available tools, or environmental constraints.

A low perceived behavioral control, like Marquel’s difficulty in remembering, diminishes the likelihood of engaging in a behavior, even if he has positive attitudes or feels social pressure. To enhance control, interventions could focus on simple reminders or strategies to boost Marquel’s confidence in remembering to buckle up.