Models of reducing addiction: theory of planned behaviour

Question 1

what do psychologists try to find out through TPB?

Answer 1

• why people adopt/ do not adopt particular behaviours
• link between our intentions + actions + what factors may influence on intentions
• why some make wrong decisions + why some may be successful at quitting + some not

Question 2

what are the 3 influencing factors on intention?

Answer 2

1. attitude
2. subjective norm
3. perceived behaviour control

Question 3

how does our attitude influence our intentions?

Answer 3

• combinations of favourable + unfavourable opinions about their addiction formed to evaluate positive and negative consequences of addiction
• attitudes may become unfavourable + lead to reduced interest in addiction- related behav eg associate gambling with losing money

Question 4

how do subjective norms influence our intention?

Answer 4

• addicts beliefs about whether people who matter most to them approve/disapprove with addictive behaviour
• beliefs based on what addicts believe to be ‘normal’ behaviour
• addicted person considers what friends/family would think if they knew

Question 5

how does percieved behaviour control influence our intention?

Answer 5

• how much control we believe we have over our behaviour
• behaviour control 2 effects-> influence behav indirectly via intentions to behave (more control believe have over gambling=more intention)
• or influence behaviour directly so greater percieved control over gambling= long + will try to stop

Question 6

Penny

what supporting research does TPB have?

Answer 6

Penny
- if individuals have failed several times to quit smoking they are less likely to believe that they will succeed in the future + therefore less likely to try
- demonstrates the influence of behavioural control as predicted by the model

Question 7

what research support does TPB have?

Answer 7

• Oh + Hsu
• questionnaire to assess gamblers previous gambling behaviour, their social norms, attitudes, behavioural control
• positive correlation found between attitudes, behavioural intentions and actual intentions

counter-> metholodology- socially desirable results eg addicts blame family for allowing it to happen + correlations only show relationship not cause and effect. therefore lacks validity

Question 8

what practical application does TPB have?

Answer 8

• theory widely usesd in health psychology + health economicists looking at cost effectiveness of treatments
• can use it to decide if an intervention will be effective
• beneftical for economy as avoids spending money on treatments that wont work. avoids treatment failing.

Question 9

how does TPB ignore free will?

Answer 9

• model believes we are rational in making choices eg whether take drug depends on what our parents think
• ideas neglects fact that drug taking may simply be impluse reaction or emotional response eg feel down gambling will make feel better
• inevitably affects validity of model as know from Beck that cognitions like mood have role in addiction