A2: Cognitive approach Flashcards
What is decision-making in health-related contexts?
It’s a cognitive process where individuals make choices about health-related behaviour for reasons such as stress relief, anxiety reduction, or boredom.
How can stress, anxiety, and boredom influence health-related decisions?
People may engage in risky behaviors like emotional eating or smoking to feel better, as these behaviors temporarily relieve negative feelings.
What are some negative outcomes of using smoking as a coping mechanism?
Smoking can reduce stress temporarily but leads to long-term health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
What behaviours can prevent health issues?
Physical activity, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and taking prescribed medication.
What is cognitive dissonance?
A psychological feeling of discomfort which occurs when an individual holds two cognitions (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, etc) which are in conflict.
Who developed the theory of cognitive dissonance, and what does it suggest?
Festinger (1957) suggested we have an inner drive to maintain consistency between attitudes and behaviours.
How can someone resolve cognitive dissonance related to smoking?
By either changing their behaviour (quitting smoking) or changing their belief (downplaying health risks).
What are professional biases in healthcare?
Biases among healthcare professionals in diagnosis and treatment that can affect decisions, often unconsciously. Racial bias, gender bias, and biases based on weight, age, disability, or sexuality.
What is a limitation of the cognitive approach in health psychology?
It can be reductionist, potentially overlooking biological factors that influence health behaviours.
What is a strength of using the cognitive approach in explaining health-related behaviours?
It has real-world applications, such as in anti-smoking interventions where addressing cognitive dissonance helps people quit. In a study (Simmons and Brandon 2007), smokers who discussed smoking’s dangers and watched anti-smoking material had stronger intentions to quit.
