Learning

Question 0

Describe the learning theory of operant conditioning.

Answer 0

People act on their environment and behaviour is shaped by the consequences (Skinner)
Behaviour reinforced if rewarded/punishment removed and decreased if punished/reward removed

Problem: immediate reward, so no accounting of cognitive processes/social context (simple stimulus-response association)

Shape behaviour through reinforcement e.g. money that would be spent on smoking saved for a holiday

Question 1

Describe the learning theory of classical conditioning.

Answer 1

Behaviours can become linked to unrelated stimuli —> habit
e.g. smoking on work breaks (environment), eating when depressed (emotion), phobias, anticipatory nausea in chemotherapy (Pavlov)

Changing health behaviour: AVERSIVE TECHNIQUE
Pair behaviour with unpleasant response e.g. disulfarim,
Break unconscious response e.g. elastic band on cigarette packets

Question 2

Describe the learning theory of social learning.

Answer 2

People learn through observation/modelling and behaviour is focused on desired goals/outcomes (Bandura - clown doll)

Motivation based on valued behaviours (rewards) and possible actions (self-efficacy)

Question 3

Describe the social cognition model of cognitive dissonance.

Answer 3

Discomfort when beliefs held are inconsistent with behaviour, which is reduced when changing beliefs or behaviour

e.g. Festinger

Question 4

Describe the social cognition model of health belief.

Answer 4

Beliefs held about health based on perceived wellbeing/severity

Beliefs held about health-related behaviour based on perceived benefits/barriers

e.g. Becker

Problem: behaviour not always rational, decisions are sometimes based on habit, emotional factors affect decisions, does not take self-efficacy and social factors into account

Question 5

Describe the social cognition model of planned behaviour.

Answer 5

Belief/evaluation of outcomes ————————-> ATTITUDE
Normative beliefs/motivation to comply ——–> SUBJECTIVE NORM
Individual control/barriers & facilitators ——> PERCEIVED CONTROL

Attitude, subjective norm, & perceived control affect intention, but perceived control also affects behaviour directly

Intention affects behaviour (make a concrete plan of action)