Health Related Behaviour Flashcards
What are related behaviours?
Behaviours that promote good health or lead to illness. Can be negative or positive. e.g. smoking.
State 3 categories of theories that help us to understand people’s health-related behaviour.
- Learning theories
- Social cognition mode
- Integrative model- COM-B
Describe classical condition (a type of learning theory).
How can we reverse/eliminate classic conditioning?
Unconscious association between cues and behaviour. Cues can trigger behaviour.
- Avoid cues
- Averse techniques (make associations with unpleasant things)
- Break habits
Describe operant conditioning.
When is behaviour reinforced/increased and decreased?
We act on behaviour and behaviour is shaped by the consequences (reward or punishment).
Increased- rewarded or punishment removed
Decreased- punished or reward is taken away
What’s the problem with operant conditioning?
- Must be short time between behaviour and reward
- Unhealthy behaviours immediately rewarding
- Humans are driven by short term rewards and avoiding short term consequences
State three limitations of conditioning theories.
- Classical and operant conditioning based on simple stimulus-response associations
- No account of cognitive processes, knowledge, beliefs, memory, attitudes, expectations etc…
- No account for social context
Describe social learning theory and give an example experiment.
People can learn vicariously (observation/modelling) and hence we learn what behaviours are rewarded and how likely it is we can perform them as well e.g. Bandaranaike and the Bobo Doll experiments. Modelling more effective is models high status or is like us.
Describe the cognitive dissonance theory.
Discomfort when hold inconsistent beliefs or actions/events don’t match beliefs; reduce discomfort by changing beliefs or behaviour.
In health, providing health information creates mental discomfort and can prompt change in behaviour.
State three learning theories.
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Social learning theory
State three social cognition models.
- Cognitive dissonance theory
- Health belief model
- Theory of planned behaviour
Describe health belief model
Behaviour is due to beliefs about health threat ( perceived susceptibility and severity), beliefs about health-related behaviour (perceived benefits and barriers) and cues to action.
State three limitations of social cognition
- Assume cognitive decision making based on weighing up pros and cons
- Don’t incorporate emotional influence
- Reasoning often only happens after risky behaviour
Describe theory of planned behaviour.
Factors influence intention and therefore behaviour. Three factors are:
- Attitude towards behaviour
- Subjective norm
- Perceived control
State three reasons why impacts of interventions vary.
- Depends on type of behaviour
- Population
- Context
Describe an integrative model for targeted intervention.
Specify behaviour to be changed
Understand the nature of behaviour and underpin may influences
Choose behavioural change technique matched to diagnosis
