The Fogg Behaviour Model

Changing our own behaviours starts where? Is it Motivation, is it ability, or is it the trigger? In the book, “Tiny Habits”, written by BJ Fogg, the author addresses this with a mental model. The model breaks down behaviour change into Motivation, Ability and Trigger. Motivation is one’s intention to perform the behaviour. Ability is skills, knowledge, or access to resources needed to complete the behaviour. Triggers are a stimulus or cue that sparks the behaviour. If one of these three factors is missing or not sufficiently strong, the behaviour will not occur. To see it through a different lens is, using the formula B = MAT. Motivation, Ability, and Trigger must all happen simultaneously to push the behaviour change. And the more you can improve MAT, the more you increase the chance of behaviour occurring. Use small celebration modals to acknowledge and celebrate success, such as reaching a milestone or completing a task. Celebration is an empowering motivator that engages. Use this model and identify which behaviour change in you is taking its time to evolve. You will probably find the reason and apply MAT therefore.