What is a primary characteristic of the Contemplation stage?

The primary characteristic of the Contemplation stage is that individuals begin to consider making a change. During this stage, people are aware of the need to change but have not yet made a commitment to take action. They engage in introspection about the pros and cons of changing their behavior, reflecting on the benefits of making a change versus the potential challenges. This stage is crucial because it marks the transition from not thinking about change to actively contemplating it, preparing individuals to move towards action in the subsequent stages of change.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different states of readiness for change. Passive disregard for change indicates a lack of awareness or interest in making any alterations to behavior, while active engagement in change would suggest a movement beyond contemplation, specifically into the preparation or action stages. Finally, being completely committed to change represents an advanced stage where individuals have made a decision and are actively working to implement change, which is not indicative of the contemplation stage.