Glossary
Social support (emotional)
What is emotional social support?
Emotional social support offers care, empathy, or encouragement from another person. As a behavior change technique, it means arranging, advising on, or providing emotional support to help someone perform a particular behavior.
Example
A person trying to stop smoking hears a partner say, “I know this is hard, and I'm proud of you for trying.” That is emotional support directed at the effort. It differs from practical help, such as arranging transport to an appointment.
The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy identifies this as technique 3.3. The support must relate to the behavior.