Which stage involves believing that the benefits of changing outweigh the costs?

• A. Contemplation
• B. Preparation
• C. Action
• D. Maintenance

Answer: (B)

This question is about decisional balance and readiness to change within the stages of change. Believing that the benefits of changing outweigh the costs signals a positive evaluation of change and a commitment to move forward, which is characteristic of the preparation stage. In preparation, individuals plan and get ready to take action soon—they set goals, arrange resources, and outline concrete steps to implement the change.

Contemplation involves awareness and ambivalence—people recognize both benefits and costs but aren’t yet ready to commit. Action is when the person is actively making the change, focusing on behavior itself. Maintenance is about sustaining the new behavior and preventing relapse, not about weighing costs versus benefits to begin.