Skip to main content

Applying Behavior Theories to Financial Behavior

  • Chapter

Abstract

This chapter discusses how two behavior theories can be applied to financial behavior research. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a motivational theory designed to predict and understand human behavior. The transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) is a multi-stage theory designed to guide people toward positive actions stage by stage. This chapter first discusses how to define financial behavior and then reviews the two theories and their applications to financial behavior. Finally, it discusses issues relevant to future research to better understand and predict financial behavior and to assist consumers to develop positive financial behaviors that improve their quality of life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen & Fishbein, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2000). Social cognition models and health behavior: A structured review. Psychology and Health, 15, 173–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 471–499.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bansal, H. S., & Taylor, S. F. (2002). Investigating interactive effects in the theory of planned behavior in a service-provider switching context. Psychology & Marketing, 19, 407–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosnjak, M., Tuten, T. L., & Wittmann, W. W. (2005). Unit (non)response in web-based access panel surveys: An extended planned-behavior approach. Psychology & Marketing, 22, 489–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, B. J. (1997). Promoting financial well-being: Running a successful MONEY 2000 campaign. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Cooperative Extension.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A. J., Kerr, G. N., & Moore, K. (2002). Attitudes and intentions towards purchasing GM food. Journal of Economic Psychology, 23(5), 557–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • East, R. (1993). Investment decisions and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Economic Psychology, 14(2), 337–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • East, R. (2000). Complaining as planned behavior. Psychology & Marketing, 17, 1077–1095.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimmons, V. S., Hira, T. K., Bauer, J. W., & Hafstrom, J. L. (1993). Financial management: Development of scales. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 14, 257–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortin, D. R. (2000). Clipping coupons in cyberspace: A proposed model of behavior for deal-prone consumers. Psychology & Marketing, 17, 515–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilgert, M. A., Hogarth, J. M., & Beverly, S. G. (2003, July). Household financial management: The connection between knowledge and behavior. Federal Reserve Bulletin, 89, 309–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogarth, J. M., Beverly, S. G., & Hilgert, M. A. (2003). Patterns of financial behaviors: Implications for community educators and policy makers. Paper presented at Federal Reserve System Community Affairs Research Conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogarth, J. M., Hilgert, M. A., & Schuchardt, J. (2002). Money managers: The good, the bad, and the lost. Proceedings of the Association of Financial Counselling and Planning Education, 12–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hrubes, D., Ajzen, I., & Daigle, J. (2001). Predicting hunting intentions and behavior: An application of the theory of planned behavior. Leisure Sciences, 23, 165–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, H., Hahn, M., Fortin, D. R., Hyun, Y. J., & Eom, Y. (2006). Effects of perceived behavioral control on the consumer usage intention of e-coupons. Psychology & Marketing, 23(10), 841–864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerkman, B. C. (1998). Motivation and stages of change in financial counseling: An application of a transtheoretical model from counseling psychology. Financial Counseling and Planning, 9(1), 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levesque, D. A., Prochaska, J. M., & Prochaska, J. O. (1999). Stages of change and integrated service delivery. Consulting Psychology Journal, 51, 226–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, H., & Dubinsky (2005), A. J. (2005). The theory of planned behavior in e-commerce: Making a case for interdependencies between salient beliefs. Psychology & Marketing, 22, 833–855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loibl, C., & Hira, T. K. (2007, March). New insights into advising female clients on investment decisions. Journal of Financial Planning. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from http://www.fpanet.org/journal/articles/2007_Issues/jfp0307-art9.cfm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynne, G. D, Casey, C. F., Hodges, A., & Rahmani, M. (1995). Conservation technology adoption decisions and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Economic Psychology. 16(4), 581–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muske, G., & Winter, M. (2001). An in-depth look at family cash-flow management practices. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 22(4), 353–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, B. (2001). Updated MONEY 2000™: Impact data. Message to MONEY 2000™ electronic mail group, MONEY2000-NATIONAL-L@cce.cornell.edu.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, B., & Xiao, J. (2003). Financial fitness quiz: A tool for analyzing financial behavior. Consumer Interest Annual, 49. Retrieved November 18, 2007, from http://consumerinterests.org.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, B., Xiao, J. J. (2006). Financial fitness quiz findings: Strengths, weaknesses, and disconnects. Journal of Extension, 44(1). Retrieved November 18, 2007, from http://www.joe.org.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pro-Change Behavior Systems. (2002). Mastering change: Counselors’ guide to using the transtheoretical model with clients. West Kingston, RI: Pro-Change Behavior Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prochaska, J. M. (2000). A transtheoretical model for assessing organizational change: A study of family service agencies’ movement to time limited therapy. Families in Society, 80(1), 76–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prochaska, J. O. (1979). Systems of psychotherapy: A transtheoretical analysis. Homewood, IL: Dorsey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist, 47(9), 1102–1114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prochaska, J. O., Redding, C. A., & Evers, K. E. (1996). The transtheoretical model and stages of change. In K. Glanz, F. M. Lewis, & B. K. Rimer (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 60–84). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prochaska, J. O., Redding, C. A., Harlow, L. L., Rossi, J. S., & Velicer, W. F. (1994). The transtheoretical model of change and HIV prevention: A review. Health Education Quarterly, 21, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shim, S., Easlick, M. A., Lotz, S. L., & Warrington, P. (2001). An online prepurchase model: The role of intention to search. Journal of Retailing, 77, 397–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shim, S., Xiao, J. J., Barber, B., & Lyons, A. (2007). Pathways to success: A model of financial well-being of young adults. (Working paper). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shockey, S. S., & Seiling, S. B. (2004). Moving into action: Application of the transtheoretical model of behavior change to financial education. Financial Counseling and Planning, 15(1), 41–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., & Anderson, J. G. (1997). Hierarchical financial needs reflected by household financial asset shares. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 18(4), 333–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., Newman, B. M., Prochaska, J. M., Leon, B., & Bassett, R. (2004). Voice of consumers in credit card debts: A qualitative approach. Journal of Personal Finance, 3(2), 56–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., Newman, B. M., Prochaska, J. M., Leon, B., Bassett, R., & Johnson, J. L. (2004). Applying the transtheoretical model of change to debt reducing behavior. Financial Counseling and Planning, 15(2), 89–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., & Noring, F. E. (1994). Perceived saving motives and hierarchical financial needs. Financial Counseling and Planning. 5, 25–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., O’Neill, B., Prochaska, J. M., Kerbal, C. M., Brennan, P., & Bristow, B. J. (2004). A consumer education program based on the transtheoretical model of change. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 28(1), 55–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., Shim, S., Barber, B., & Lyons, A. (2007). Academic success and well-being of college students: Financial behaviors matter (TCAI Report). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., Sorhaindo, B., & Garman, E. T. (2006). Financial behavior of consumers in credit counseling. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 30(2), 108–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J. J., & Wu, J. (2006). Applying the theory of planned behavior to retain credit counseling clients. Proceedings of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, 91–100.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Xiao, J.J. (2008). Applying Behavior Theories to Financial Behavior. In: Xiao, J.J. (eds) Handbook of Consumer Finance Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-75734-6_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics