The moderated influence of internal control: An examination across health-related behaviors

An extension of the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) was used to identify whether moderated relationships exist between perceived behavioral control and theoretical constructs within the model. Study 1 examined influences of perceived internal control relative to behavioral category; for a utilitarian behavior (e.g., using sunscreen, donating blood), the moderating relation was of a cognitive nature (i.e., attitude, subjective norm), whereas for hedonic behaviors (e.g., drinking and driving, fast food consumption), the moderating relation was of a noncognitive nature (i.e., affect, past behavior). These relations were manipulated in Study 2 via the framing of neutral behaviors (i.e., chocolate and fat consumption) to explicate the hypothesized patterns of interactions. Theoretical implications of findings are discussed.