Vocab CH 3

Question 1

Applied behavioural-science

Answer 1

an intervention approach that targets observable behaviours, and alters behavioural antecedents and consequences to influence beneficial change

Question 2

Antecedents

Answer 2

Environmental stimuli which attempt to direct a target behaviour through persuasion and/or announcing a consequence

Question 3

Three-term contingency

Answer 3

The sequence of antecedent -> behaviour -> consequence

Question 4

Prompts

Answer 4

verbal or written messages designed to remind people to perform a target behaviour

Question 5

Countercontrol/Psychological reactance

Answer 5

An attempt to regain perceived freedom by performing behaviour contrary to that advocated by the behaviour-change intervention

Question 6

Modelling

Answer 6

intervention technique which involves the demonstration of a desired target behaviour

Question 7

Behavioural commitment

Answer 7

A written or verbal promise to perform a target behaviour

Question 8

Penalty

Answer 8

a negative consequence delivered after an undesirable behaviour designed to decrease its future occurrence

Question 9

Reward

Answer 9

A positive consequence delivered after a desirable behaviour which is intended to increase future occurrences of the behaviour

Question 10

Incentive

Answer 10

Antecedent message that announces the availability of a reward upon completion of a specific behaviour

Question 11

Disincentive

Answer 11

Antecedent message or activator announcing a punitive consequence for a specific undesirable behaviour

Question 12

Positive reinforcement

Answer 12

the delivery of a consequence that increases the probability the behaviour it follows will recur

Question 13

Punishment

Answer 13

the delivery of a consequence that reduces the probability the behaviour it follows will reoccur

Question 14

Self-(‘intrinsic’)-motivation

Answer 14

Motivation to complete a task for the sake of the task itself rather than the availability of external rewards

Question 15

Feedback

Answer 15

Providing individuals with data about the frequency of a target behaviour and/or the consequences of that behaviour

Question 16

Behaviour-based feedback

Answer 16

informs individuals about their correct vs. incorrect behaviour

Question 17

Outcome-based feedback

Answer 17

notifies people about the results of their behaviour

Question 18

Consistency

Answer 18

A fundamental human motive which drives us to be internally and externally consistent (i.e. to have attitudes and behaviours that do not contradict each other)

Question 19

Foot-in-the-door (FITD) technique

Answer 19

A consistency-based social influence technique in which compliance with a smaller request precedes a larger subsequent request

Question 20

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 20

The uncomfortable tension that arises when individuals become aware of inconsistencies between their attitudes and behaviours

Question 21

Hypocrisy effect

Answer 21

commitments become more effective when they are followed by reminders of past failures

Question 22

Behavioural self-perception

Answer 22

The tendency to infer one’s own attitudes and traits based on self-observations of one’s own behaviour

Question 23

Social proof

Answer 23

Technique in which the behaviour of others is presented as validation for a course of action

Question 24

Social norms

Answer 24

Codes of conduct based on what people typically do or approve of, which inform members of a social group how to act in various situations

Question 25

Descriptive norms

Answer 25

an individual’s perceptions of what members of a social group typically do

Question 26

Injunctive norms

Answer 26

an individual’s perception about what behaviours members of a social group approve or disapprove

Question 27

Pluralistic ignorance

Answer 27

The tendency to believe the private attributes and beliefs of others are different from one’s own, despite identical public behaviour

Question 28

Fundamental attribution error

Answer 28

The tendency to overestimate the influence of personality variables on the behaviour of others while underestimating the influence of the situation

Question 29

Availability heuristic

Answer 29

the tendency to calculate probability of an event’s occurrence based on the ease with which we can bring that event to mind

Question 30

Normative feedback

Answer 30

An intervention technique that provides data comparing an individual’s behaviour with the typical or average group behaviour

Question 31

Authority

Answer 31

the social influence principle describing the tendency of individuals to: (1) comply with the request of high-status/power individuals; and (2) follow the advice of experts

Question 32

Liking

Answer 32

The social influence principle describing the tendency of individuals to comply with the requests of attractive, similar and familiar others

Question 33

Block-leader approach

Answer 33

An intervention technique in which members of a community neighbourhood are recruited to serve as intervention agents and encourage participation in a particular programme

Question 34

Reciprocity

Answer 34

The social norm that pressures people to replay benefits received from others

Question 35

Scarcity

Answer 35

The human tendency to value scarce resources and opportunities

Question 36

Reactance

Answer 36

the tendency of individuals to act in ways to re-establish freedom when it becomes limited or threatened

Question 37

Loss aversion

Answer 37

The tendency to assign greater value to losses that to gains of equivalent magnitude

Question 38

Fear appeals

Answer 38

Motivational messages that attempt to change a behaviour by explaining that certain negative consequences will occur in the absence of behaviour change