Which stage of change is characterized by weighing the pros and cons of change?

• A. Pre-contemplation
• B. Contemplation
• C. Preparation
• D. Action

Answer: (B)

Weighing the pros and cons of change happens in the Contemplation stage. In this phase, a person recognizes there may be benefits to changing and also notices barriers or drawbacks, leading to ambivalence. They start to consider what life would be like if they changed, gather information, and reflect on the costs and benefits, but they haven’t committed to taking action yet. This contrasts with pre-contemplation, where there’s no intention to change, and preparation, where there’s a clear plan and intent to act soon. For example, someone thinking about quitting smoking might weigh health benefits against cravings and social habits, weighing whether the effort and time to quit are worth the potential gains.