Session 2 - Human Diversity and Drugs Flashcards
What are health related behaviours?
Anything that may promote good health or lead to illness
Give three examples of health related behaviours
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Drug use
Why is it important to think about health related behaviour?
• A third of disease burden is caused by tobacco, alcohol, blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity
Outline three different explanations given in academic literature to help us understand health-related behaviour
Learning theories
Social cognition models
Stages of change model
List three learning theories used to describe health behaviour
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Social learning theory
Give two social cognition models used to describe health behaviour
- Health belief model
* Theory of planned behaviour
What is classical conditioning in humans?
- The theory that behaviours can become linked to unrelated stimuli
- Pavlov’s dogs and salivation
What is the social learning theory?
- People learn what behaviours are rewarded and how likely it is we can perform behaviour from observing others
- Motivated to perform behaviours that are valued and that they believe they can do
How does social learning theory work both ways?
- Influence of family, peers, media figures and celebrities can reinforce negative behaviours
- Positive peer leading
Why is cognitive dissonance useful?
• Providing health information creates mental discomfort by clashing with belifs and can prompt change in behaviour
Health belief model - What two sets of information do we have to look at to understand why people might do certain behaviours, such as using a condom for sex with a new partner?
• Beliefs about health threat ○ Perceived susceptibility ○ Perceived severity • Beliefs about health-related behaviours ○ Perceived benefits ○ Perceived barriers
What are the limitations of the health belief model?
- Is behaviour rational and reasoned
- Are decisions due to habit or conditioned behaviour
- Emotional factors like fear
- Doesn’t account for self efficacy
What is the theory of planned behaviour?
• The theory that explores the inspiration behind certain intentions (lack of condom use)
Give three sets of info we analyse to work out someone’s health intentions
- Attitude toward behaviour (what do I think?)
- Subjective norm (what do others think)
- Perceived control (how easy is it to do?)
How can we get someone to follow through with their intentions?
• Get them to write a concrete plan
