Pre-contemplation is the first step of change which is often recognized as denial and minimization. People are not aware that they have a problem or if they recognize it they rationalize it as “not being that bad.” The idea of the pre-contemplation stage of change applies to individuals, families, communities, and nations.
The main defenses people use in pre-contemplation are denial, rationalization and intellectualization, projection, displacement, and internalization.
The biggest mistake helpers make with people in pre-contemplation is pushing them to action. In pushing people in pre-contemplation to change helpers will only provoke resistance. The person or people they are trying to help don’t even recognize yet that there is a problem.
So the first step in working with someone or groups in pre-contemplation is by consciousness raising, by educating them about the nature of the problem. This consciousness raising and education can take many forms. For more information click here.
This is article #2 in the series on the Transtheoretical model.
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