Internal/Psychological Influences on Health

Question 1

Reflective vs Automatic behaviour

Answer 1

Reflective system = what we do is a result of goals that reflect our values and where we are aware of what we’re doing
Automatic system = we are often not aware of the impulses that have generated our behaviour
Often they work synergistically and sometimes they act anatagonistically

Question 2

Social cognitive theory

Answer 2

Observational learning/modelling (people learn by observing others)

• Outcome expectations
• Self-efficacy
• Goal setting
• Self-regulation

Question 3

Personal factors of behaviour change theory

Answer 3

• Beliefs
• Knowledge
• Attitudes
• Self-efficacy

Question 4

Environmental factors of behaviour change theory

Answer 4

• Culture
• Location
• Income
• Social support

Question 5

Behavioural factors of behaviour change theory

Answer 5

• Habit

- Pattern of behaviour

Question 6

To influence action/behaviour, information must be:

Answer 6

• Relevant to current goals
• Easily understood and remembered
• Readily available in the moment of decision or action

Question 7

Self-efficacy underpins:

Answer 7

• Goal setting
• Effort investment
• Persistence on face of barriers
• Recovery from setbacks

Question 8

‘Choice architecture’

Answer 8

Environment in which the individual makes choices; changing the way options are presented or altering the social and physical environment can make it much more likely that a particular choice becomes the natural or default preference

Question 9

‘Nudges’

Answer 9

Prompt choices without getting people to consider their options consciously, and therefore do not include openly persuasive interventions

Question 10

Behaviour Change Recommedations (NICE 2007)

Answer 10

• Take account of the circumstances in which people live, especially socioeconomic and cultural context and potential barriers circumstances may create
• Aim to develop and build on people’s strengths or ‘assets’ and skills
• Tailor interventions to tackle the individual beliefs, attitudes, intentions, skills and knowledge associated with the target behaviours

Question 11

Factors that increase the chance of someone changing their behaviour:

Answer 11

• Advantages of change outweigh the disadvantages
• Anticipation of a positive response from others for your behaviour change
• Social pressure to change
• Perceive the new behaviour to be consistent with your self-image
• You are able to carry out the new behaviour in a range of circumstances