Attitudes vs. Actions in Social Psychology

In social psychology, the relationship between attitudes and actions is often explored to understand how they influence behavior. One influential theory in this domain is the Theory of Planned Behavior. According to this theory, entrepreneurial intentions, consumer behaviors, and health-related actions can all be predicted by three core components: attitudinal beliefs, normative beliefs, and perceived behavioral control.

Consider the following scenario: A student is passionate about environmental conservation and believes that using public transport reduces carbon footprints. However, despite these attitudes, the student primarily drives to school due to peer pressure. Which of the following concepts primarily explains why the student’s actions do not align with their attitudes?