What is the primary aim of motivational interviewing in supporting behavior change?

• A. Collect information without interaction
• B. Provide expert guidance and directives
• C. Ultimatum to change
• D. Elicit intrinsic motivation and collaborate on goals

Answer: (D)

Motivational interviewing centers on drawing out the person’s own reasons for change and working with them to set goals in a collaborative, nonjudgmental way. The aim is to evoke the patient’s intrinsic motivation for change, explore ambivalence, and support autonomy so they feel ownership of the plan. In practice this means using open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirming strengths to guide the conversation toward change talk rather than pushing advice. This is why eliciting intrinsic motivation and collaborating on goals best captures the approach. Approaches that just collect information, push expert directives, or issue ultimatums tend to undermine motivation and autonomy, which motivational interviewing intentionally avoids.