The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions

Abstract

This article introduces the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), a novel method for designing and characterizing behaviour change interventions. Existing frameworks often lack comprehensiveness, coherence, or links to an overarching behavioural model.
The BCW centers on a COM-B system—three essential conditions for behaviour: capability (skills/knowledge), opportunity (environmental/social factors), and motivation (psychological processes, habits, emotions). Surrounding this core are nine intervention functions (e.g., education, persuasion, coercion) and seven policy categories (e.g., regulation, taxation) to enable these interventions.
Tested on UK tobacco control and obesity reduction strategies, the BCW reliably mapped interventions to their behavioural targets. It provides a structured tool for policymakers and researchers, bridging the gap between behavioural theory and practical intervention design.