Chapter_007 Flashcards
(34 cards)
What are the dominant psychological approaches to explain health behaviours?
Theories and models that predict, explain, and modify health behaviours
These approaches help in understanding the initiation and continuation of health-enhancing and health ‘risk’ behaviours.
What are health-enhancing behaviours?
Activities that maintain health or reduce the risk of illness or accident
Examples include a healthy diet and not driving under the influence.
What are health habits?
Health behaviours practised regularly, such as daily teeth brushing
These habits contribute to overall health maintenance.
What are modifiable risk factors for coronary health disease?
- Tobacco smoking
- Physical inactivity
- Alcohol misuse
- Poor nutrition
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol level
- Excess body weight
- Diabetes
These factors can be changed to reduce the risk of coronary health disease.
What are the internal and external challenges to behaviour change?
- Internal: Relapse, personal thoughts, and feelings
- External: Environmental factors affecting behaviour
Identifying and addressing these challenges is crucial for effective behaviour modification.
What is classical conditioning?
A process where a response originally made to a specific stimulus is made to another stimulus paired with it
This is a fundamental form of learning.
What is an unconditioned stimulus?
A stimulus that reliably elicits a response, such as salivation at the sight of food
It naturally triggers a response without prior learning.
Define conditioned response.
The response elicited by the conditioned stimulus after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus
This response is learned rather than natural.
What factors influence the strength of a conditioned response?
- Number of pairings of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli
- Intensity of the unconditioned stimulus
- Reliability of the conditioned stimulus predicting the unconditioned stimulus
- Temporal relationship between the stimuli
These factors determine how strong the learned response will be.
What is reinforcement in operant conditioning?
A stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring
It serves as motivation for the behaviour.
What is positive reinforcement?
A stimulus that increases behaviour likelihood by being introduced or added
An example is giving a cookie after a child cleans their room.
What is negative reinforcement?
A stimulus that increases behaviour likelihood by its absence or avoidance
For instance, avoiding a final exam if a student maintains a high average.
What is punishment in operant conditioning?
A stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour by being introduced or added
An example is deducting grades for late homework.
What are the disadvantages of using punishment in behaviour control?
- Focuses on past mistakes
- Establishes blame
- Imposes emotional pain or conflict
Punishment can lead to negative feelings and does not teach the desired behaviour.
What is Bandura’s theory of observational learning?
Individuals learn behaviours by observing others, especially those they consider important or similar to themselves
This theory highlights the role of modeling in learning.
What is functional analysis of behaviour (FAB)?
The first step in designing a behavioural change program, specifying antecedents, behaviours, and consequences
It forms the basis for understanding and modifying behaviour.
What are the three components of FAB?
- Selecting target behaviour in observable and measurable ways
- Identifying current contingencies
- Measuring and recording behaviour
These components are essential for effective behavioural analysis.
What do cognitive theories of health behaviour propose?
People actively interpret their environment, and behaviour is a result of internal and external events
Internal events are thoughts and perceptions, while external events are stimuli and reinforcements.
What is the goal of cognitive behavioural therapy?
To maintain desired behaviour or reduce relapse by targeting cognitions
Clients act as co-therapists by monitoring their own behaviour.
What regulates behaviour according to external events?
Stimuli and reinforcements
These are factors within the environment that influence an individual’s actions.
What is the goal of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?
Maintain desired behaviour (or extinction) and reduce relapse
CBT aims to help individuals change their thoughts and behaviours.
In CBT, who acts as a co-therapist?
The client
Clients monitor their own behaviour and apply techniques.
What does CBT focus on?
The present
While history is acknowledged, it is not the focus of treatment.
What are the two factors that the health belief model uses to predict health behavior?
Perception of threat to health and belief in effectiveness of health measures
Developed by Rosenstock in 1966.
