lecture 6

Question 1

What are the learning objectives?

Answer 1

1. Offer a broad definition of compulsivity, as adopted in the ACD course [paraphrasing]
2. Explain what a transdiagnostic approach entails and why it may be useful [paraphrasing]
3. Offer a definition of ‘endophenotype’ [paraphrasing]
4. Explain what the RDoC initiative of the NIMH entails [paraphrasing]
5. Name and explain self-report measures (and their differences) for measuring real-world habits [paraphrasing and analyzing]
6. Describe what implementation intentions (II’s) are and explain two working mechanisms [paraphrasing]
7. Describe how II’s can be used to form new habits and break existing ones [paraphrasing]
8. Explain the relevance of the difference between instigation and execution habits for habit-based interventions [analyzing]
9. Describe and explain different components of habit-based interventions, their theoretical basis, and how they can support behavior change [paraphrasing and analyzing]
10. Be able to predict the main driver of behavior (habits or intentions or both) depending on the level of self-control [analyzing]
11. Name factors contributing to the effectiveness of II’s and habit-based interventions [paraphrasing]
12. Think critically about the effectiveness of habit-based interventions [evaluating]
13. Advise on how effective II’s should be formulated based on a case study [independent thinking]
14. Provide logical/evidence-based arguments as to whether II’s can be succesfully applied to compulsive behavior in mental disorders [independent thinking]

Question 2

What do habit-based interventions do?

Answer 2

promote lasting behavior change by building desirable habits, or breaking undesired ones
> can be done through strategic planning (Implementation Intentions)

Question 3

What are some self-report measures of habit?

Answer 3

Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI)
> rate on a scale to what extent the behavior is something… (I do frequently, I do automatically, I do without thinking, …)
Self-Report Behavioural Automaticity Index
> 4-item subscale of the SRHI
> items 2, 5, 8, 10
(picture 1)

Question 4

what are implementation intentions?

Answer 4

people find it hard to bridge the intention-behavior gap (achieve their goals)
> the way in which goals are pursued plays an important role
→ in this lecture we look at implementation intentions (II)
IIs are “if-then” plans that help people achieve their goals
this is done by specifying critical situations and liking these to the desired behavior
> e.g. “if I am hungry, I eat fruit” → works better than just having the general goal of eating healthier
> works especially well with eating habits, but also with studying, vitamin intake, recyling, …

Question 5

Why do II work so well?

Answer 5

II describe the desired stimulus-response habit
> a mental association is made between the critical cues and the desired behaviour, so that the behavior can be triggered automatically
the focus is on the critical cues, so that every opportunity to carry out the desired behavior is recognized and used

Question 6

What is the broad definition of Compulsivity?

Answer 6

a compulsive behavior is continued despite the person being aware of the profound detrimental consequences (for their health, social relationships, professional functioning and well-being)

Question 7

What is the transdiagnostic perspective of compulsivity?
- what transdiagnostic processes will be focused on in the course?

Answer 7

compulsivity is characteristic of substance abuse, but also of eating disorders and OCD
compulsivity is here referred to as:
> common psychological/neurobiological processes that are thought to underlie behavior that is continued despite explicit knowledge of devastating negative consequences, in various disorders
in this course we’ll look at these transdiagnostic processes:
> learning processes (reinforcement vs punishment; pavlovian vs instrumental) [part 1]
> cognitive control processes
> neurobiological processes

Question 8

what does Endophenotype mean?

Answer 8

it’s all the biological and psychological phenomena of a disorder believed to be in the causal chain between genetic contributions to a disorder and diagnosable symptoms of psychopathology
(picture 2)
they are part of the causal chain between genetics and “outside” behavior

Question 9

what is the RDoC initiative?

Answer 9

Research Domain Criteria Initiative
looks at underlying processes across disorders, and interactions between multiple risk and protective factors
> does not rely on categorical distinction between disorders
considers mental health and psychopathology in the context of major domains of psychological and neurobiological processes, rather than within established diagnostic categories

Question 10

What is the clinical relevance of Transdiagnostic perspective?

Answer 10

might open new ways to explore development, maintenance and comorbidity of disorders
might lead to new targets for prevention and treatment

Question 11

what is the intention behavior gap?
what does research show?

Answer 11

the phenomenon that people have explicit decisions to change their behavior, but fail to take action
> e.g. all of Eli’s new year resolutions
medium-large change in intention → small-to-medium change in behavior

Question 12

intention-behavior gap vs motivational models
- are these models useful in changing behavior?

Answer 12

the intention-behavior gap poses a challenge for motivational models
according to these models:
> intention is the main determinant of behavior
> to change behavior, we must understand the factors that influence behavior
1- Health Belief Model
2- Theory of Reasoned Action
3- Theory of Planned Behavior
= interventions based on this models have a very positive effect on motivation and intention, but not great effect on actual behavior

Question 13

Theory of planned behavior

Answer 13

looks at attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control as determinants of intentions (which then determines behavior)
to change behavior, you should first target the positive/negative attitudes towards the behavior, social pressure, and guide people to have control over it
(picture 3)
- Intention
> the motivation required to perform a particular behavior
> is the proximal determinant of behavior
- Attitudes
> general positive/negative evaluation of behavior
- Subjective norms
> global perception of socia pressure
- Perceived behavioral control (related to self-efficacy)

Question 14

Study on the intention-behavior gap

Answer 14

they asked students about intentions to buy fast food in near future
> in people that do not buy fast food habitually, the intentions were a good predictor of actual behavior
> in people who often buy fast food, their intentions were not good predictors of future behavior
(picture 4)
→ as behavior repeatedly takes place, habit increases and becomes a better predictor of behavior than behavioral intentions

Question 15

Quick reminder - how are habits formed?

Answer 15

Law of effect (Thornndike, 1911)
→ habits are instrumental responses that are triggered by stimuli, and that do not depend on the current motivation for the outcome of the behavior
research shows that hald of our daily behaviors is performed in teh dame manner in the same situations (habitual)
= habits take up a major part of our day, for better or worse

Question 16

Reminder - what are the advantages and disadvantages of habits?

Answer 16

habits are efficient (easy, fast, low effort), but inflexible
(picture 5)

Question 17

MC1 - Which test can be used to determine whether behavior is habitual?
1. progressive ratio paradigm
2. outcome-devaluation test
3. conditioned approach paradigm

Answer 17

outcome-devaluation test
→ It allows for well-controlled experimental investigation of habitual vs goal-directed action control in the lab
? how can we study real-life habits?

Question 18

How can we investigate real-life habits?

Answer 18

Field experiment
- pop-corn experiment (people that habitually eat popcorn in the cinema, ate the same amount regardless of fresh or stale, the others more fresh; when context changed, alll more fresh)
Self-report measures

Question 19

Self-report measures
Self-report habit index (SRHI)

Answer 19

asks people about the subjective experience of doind something out of habit
there are around 12 questions, and people have to grade each question 1-7 based on their behavior
reflects on:
> repetition of behavior (…often)
> automaticity (…without thinking)
> identity (…that’s typically me)

Question 20

Self-report measures
Self-report habit index (SRHI)

Answer 20

asks people about the subjective experience of doind something out of habit
there are around 12 questions, and people have to grade each question 1-7 based on their behavior
reflects on:
> repetition of behavior (…often)
> automaticity (…without thinking)
> identity (…that’s typically me)