What are the three components of the COM-B model?

The three components of the COM-B model are capability, opportunity, and motivation. This model, developed to understand behavior change, emphasizes that for a behavior to occur, individuals must have the capability to perform the behavior, the opportunity to engage in it, and the motivation to do so.

Capability refers to an individual’s physical and psychological ability to perform a specific behavior. This includes having the necessary skills as well as the appropriate knowledge.

Opportunity represents the external factors that can either facilitate or impede the behavior, such as the social and physical environment. This could include access to resources, support systems, or environmental cues.

Motivation involves the internal processes that activate and direct behavior, encompassing both reflective processes (like beliefs and intentions) and automatic processes (such as emotions and impulses).

Each of these components interrelates to enable behavior change; if any one component is lacking, the possibility of the desired behavior occurring diminishes significantly. Understanding these components is crucial for designing effective interventions that promote healthy behaviors in clients.