2. Health Related Behaviour

Question 1

What are the three learning theories?

Answer 1

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning theory.

Question 2

What are the two social cognition models?

Answer 2

Health belief model and theory of planned behaviour.

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Association with other stimuli, so behaviour becomes habit.

Question 4

What is an example of classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Pavlovian condition with Pavlov’s Dogs who associated food with the need of salivation, then food with a bell sounding, and eventually salivating when a bell was rung.

Question 5

What are some examples of physical responses that can become classically conditioned?

Answer 5

Anticipatory nausea in chemotherapy or phobias.

Question 6

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 6

Behaviour is reinforced by rewards and punishments.

Question 7

How does operant conditioning work?

Answer 7

Behaviour is reinforced if it is rewarded or punishment is decreased, and behaviour decreases if it is punished or reward is removed.

Question 8

What is the problem with operant conditioning and unhealthy behaviours?

Answer 8

Unhealthy behaviours are often immediately rewarding so are driven by the short term, long term ‘punishments’ from that behaviour aren’t considered.

Question 9

What is the social learning theory?

Answer 9

Behaviour learnt by observing others’ behaviours to see what is rewarded, and what is punished.

Question 10

What is behaviour focused on in the social learning theory?

Answer 10

Desired goals or outcomes.

Question 11

When are models in the social learning theory more effective?

Answer 11

When the models are high status, like celebrities, or like us, e.g. family.

Question 12

What is the premise of the health belief model?

Answer 12

Beliefs about a health threat and health related behaviour lead to an action.

Question 13

What about a health threat is considered in the health belief model?

Answer 13

Perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity.

Question 14

What about a health related behaviour is considered in the health belief model?

Answer 14

Perceived benefits, and perceived barriers.

Question 15

What are some of the limitations of the health belief model?

Answer 15

It relies on rationale and reasoning before a behaviour, however consequence are often only thought about after the action.
Decisions are also influenced by habit, conditioned behaviour, or coercion.
Doesn’t consider emotional factors like fear.
It is an incomplete view that doesn’t consider self-efficacy and broader social factors.

Question 16

What is the premise of the theory of planned behaviour?

Answer 16

Beliefs about the outcomes/ evaluation affect the attitude towards the behaviour. Normative beliefs motivation to comply affect the subjective norm. Individual control barriers and facilitators affect perceived control. These in turn affect behavioural intention which may change behaviour.

Question 17

What is the theory of planned behaviour a good predictor of, and what is it a bad predictor of?

Answer 17

Good predictor of intentions, but a poor predictor of behaviour. Not a certainty that the intentions will translate to behaviour.

Question 18

What idea is the stages of change model based on?

Answer 18

The way people think about health behaviours and willingness to change their behaviour are not static.

Question 19

What are the stages of change?

Answer 19

Pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse.

Question 20

What is the clinical relevance of the stages of change model?

Answer 20

Intervention must be appropriate to the stage of change the person is at.

Question 21

How can acknowledging relapse as a stage of change be helpful?

Answer 21

It shows it is not a reason to give up and prevents a lapse becoming a relapse.

Question 22

How can health behaviour be changed?

Answer 22

Information - health education and health promotion. Behavioural skills and resources like smoking cessation programmes, exercise advice. incentives to change, e.g. financial incentives.

Question 23

What is motivational interviewing?

Answer 23

A client-centred, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.

Question 24

What is the aim of motivational interviewing?

Answer 24

To elicit the patient’s own arguments for change so their internal motivation is increased and the patient is more wiling and able to change.

Question 25

Which stages of the stages of change is motivational interviewing useful for?

Answer 25

Precontemplative or contemplative patients.

Question 26

What should clinicians be aware of that may be helpful in changing health behaviour by motivational interviewing?

Answer 26

Express empathy, develop discrepancy, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy.