- Perceived costs are too high: “Quitting smoking while I’m pregnant looks impossible, but I might be able to cut down to a half a pack a day.”
- The behavior objective has already been met: “My child already has five caring adult relationships outside the home, so for you to suggest I go find one caring adult for my child says you’re not talking to people like me.”
- We learn a major knowledge objective isn’t needed but a belief objective is: “I already know that tobacco kills one out of three users. I just don’t believe I’ll get addicted.”
- The original behavior objective isn’t the solution to the problem: “I always cover the load in the back of my pickup truck with a tarp. The problem is, it still doesn’t keep stuff from flying out. What we need is a net or cable that holds the trap down.”
- The goal is too high: “This latest survey says that 75% of high school seniors are sexually active, so a goal of 50% choosing abstinence looks impossible with this group!”