Health Behaviour

Question 0

Describe classical conditioning

Answer 0

When behaviours become linked to unrelated stimuli

Question 1

Define health related behaviour

Answer 1

Anything that may promote good health or lead to illness

Question 2

Give an example of classical conditioning

Answer 2

Smoking in the car

Question 3

Give a clinical example of how classical conditioning can be used

Answer 3

Can give medication where drinking alcohol causes nausea

Question 4

Describe operant conditioning

Answer 4

Where behaviour is shaped by the consequence

It can be reinforced if behaviour is rewarded/punishment removed and vice versa

Question 5

Give an example of when operant conditioning can be used

Answer 5

To help stop smoking - money that would have been spent on cigarettes can be put in a jar and save up for something

Question 6

What is a problem that operant behaviour can lead to?

Answer 6

Eg smoking can have good short term effects but long term is not considered

Question 7

Give some limitations of the conditioning theories

Answer 7

Doesn’t take into account cognitive processes, knowledge, beliefs, memory, attitudes, expectations…
No account of social context

Question 8

Describe the social learning theory

Answer 8

People can learn through observation and copying.
Behaviour is focused on desired goals/outcomes
People motivated perform behaviours that are valued and they believe they can enact (self-efficacy)
Can learn what behaviours are rewarded and how likely it is we could do it by observing others
More effective if models are high status/like us

Question 9

How can social learning theory be used?

Answer 9

Use famous people eg milk campaign

Question 10

Describe cognitive dissonance theory

Answer 10

Discomfort when one holds inconsistent beliefs or actions/events don’t match beliefs
May reduce discomfort by changing beliefs/behaviour

Question 11

How can cognitive dissonance theory be used in medicine?

Answer 11

Provide health information which may create mental discomfort and prompt a behaviour change

Question 12

Give an example of when cognitive dissonance theory is used

Answer 12

Warnings on cigarette packets

Question 13

Explain the concept of the health belief model

Answer 13

People have beliefs of perceived health threat

• their perceived susceptibility
• their perceived severity

They also think about beliefs about health related behaviour
-perceived benefits and barriers

Question 14

Limitations of health belief model?

Answer 14

People often don’t think about the risks/benefits until after they have done it
The could be in the habit of doing something so don’t think about it
There may be emotional factors eg fear
There may be broader social factors

Question 15

Describe the concept of theory of planned behaviour

Answer 15

What do they think about the behaviour
What do others think
Can they do it
Leads to the intention and then the behaviour
Good predictor of intentions but poor predictor of behaviour

Question 16

Where do issues with the theory of planned behaviour lie?

Answer 16

Translating intentions to behaviour

Can predict intentions but not behaviour

Question 17

What are the five stages of thought for making a change?

Answer 17

Precontemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Maintenance
Relapse

Question 18

How can getting people to make a change be made more successful

Answer 18

Prepare patients before they do that they may relapse and have plans in place before they do

Question 19

What are learning theories?

Answer 19

Behaviours learnt and maintained through dissociation, positive consequences and observation of others

Question 20

What a social cognition models about?

Answer 20

Beliefs and attitudes, social norms and perceptions of control play an important part in behaviour

Question 21

Why are learning theories and social cognition models useful?

Answer 21

Help us to understand why patients engage in unhealthy behaviour
Help us in informing efforts to change behaviour