Psychology: Models of Health Behaviour Flashcards
What is a theory?
A coherent account of a phenomenon arrived at
through inference and thought. In today’s world most
people prefer theories that are empirically testable
What is the purpose of a theory?
To provides an explanation for the phenomenon and to
generate predictions. If we can generate accurate
predictions then we can manipulate or control the
behaviour in question.
What makes a good theory?
- Explain a related set of observations.
- Generate testable predictions or hypotheses.
- Be the simplest explanation of the phenomenon at hand (parsimonious)
- Be comprehensible and coherent.
- Not be contradicted by observations.
What is the Health Belief model?
- expectancy-value model
- individual assessment of a THREAT will dictate your response to it
THREAT plays a central component in model
Factors affecting your perception of threat:
- modifying factors (age, time)
- susceptibility/severity (FHx)
- cues (fro, family/friend, Sx)
these then inform the behaviour change as well as;
- benefits
- barriers
- self-efficacy
What are the advantages of the health belief model?
- comparison of different influences on health behaviours
- ID of important barriers to behaviour change
What are the pitfalls of the health believe model?
- threat does not always predict behaviour change
- does not take into account emotions or psychosocial awareness
- people underestimate likelihood of becoming ill or in an accident etc
- doe not define how to test relationships between the different elements of the model
What is the model of ‘theory of planned behaviour’?
- expectancy-value model
INTENTION (central component) is based on:
- attitudes
- subjective norms
- perceived behavioural control
actual control is a proxy element of perceive control, which also influences whether there is a behaviour change or not
What are the advantages of the theory of planned behaviour model?
- intention predict some behaviours
- highlights social norms
- perceived control often the most important factor
What are the main issues with the theory of planned behaviour model?
does not address:
- intentions do not usually predict behaviour
- past behaviour is often best predictor behaviour
- environmental influence
- social support
- habits
What is the intention behaviour relationship?
intentions generally predict 28% of behaviour variance
but often individuals plan to behave in a certain way but then find themselves doing the contrary action
What is the transtheoretical model?
PRE-CONTEMPLATION
no change contemplated
CONTEMPLATION
desire to change <6mnth
PREPARATION
intent to change in near future
ACTION
change of behaviour
MAINTENANCE
PCPAM - trans
What are the advantages of the transtheoretical model?
- intuitively appealing model
- popular in practice
- predicts change in some behaviours
- broad
- identified many useful processes involved in behavioural change
What are the pitfalls of the transtheoretical mode
- stage definitions are arbitrary and can vary widely between studies
- assumes that change is planned and not spontaneous
- pre-contemplation, to preparation may be argues to be continuous not discrete stages
- doesn’t assess readiness to change
- doesn’t consider negative influences (e.g. avoidance)
- suggests insight into behaviour
What is cognitive dissonance theory?
dissonant cognition = thoughts contradict each other
but this induces negative feeling states which is uncomfortable
when we have input that does not match with our perception, we change our perception to match that external input
What concepts will new health behaviour models need to include?
- identity
- impulses/inhibitions/inertia (thought suppression)
- changing priorities
- spontaneous/chaotic change
- triggers (environmental stimuli)
- evaluations
- plans
- memory
- conditioning
- positive illusions
