Health Psychology and Human Behavior

Health Psychology and Human Diversity

• Health and illness related behaviours can promote good health or lead to illness.
• Examples include smoking, drinking, drug use, exercise, diet, safer sex practices, screening activities, and adhering to treatment regimens.

Theories/Models to Help Understand People’s Health and Illness Related Behaviours

• Learning Theories:

  • Classical conditioning (Pavlov): Associations between stimuli leading to learned responses.
  • Operant conditioning (Skinner): Consequences of behaviors influence future behavior (rewards or punishments).
  • Social learning theory (Bandura): Learning by observing and imitating others.

• Cognition and Social Cognition Models:

  • Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger): Conflict between beliefs and behaviours.
  • Health belief model (Becker): Individual's perceptions of threat and benefits of taking action.
  • Theory of reasoned action/planned behaviour (Ajzen & Fishbein): Intention to behave influenced by personal attitude and subjective norms.

Classical Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning)

• Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936): Russian physiologist who developed the concept.
• Founder of classical conditioning and modern behavior therapy.
• Process: Association is formed between a naturally occurring stimulus and a previously neutral stimulus.
• Illustrative example: Dog salivating at the sound of a bell after repeatedly pairing the bell with food.

Classical Conditioning (John Watson)

• John Watson (1878-1958): American psychologist who further developed classical conditioning.
• Little Albert experiment: Experimental conditioning of a child to fear a white rat.

Classical Conditioning and Changing Health Behaviour

• Aversive techniques: Pairing undesirable behavior with unpleasant response (e.g., nausea-inducing medication with alcohol use).

  • Example: Disulfiram (Antabuse) treatment for alcoholism.

• Techniques can be applied in smoking/alcohol misuse for harmful associations.

• Break unconscious response

• Elastic band on cigarette packet

Operant Conditioning

• BF Skinner (1904-1990): Developed operant conditioning.
• People/animals act on the environment, behavior shaped by consequences.
• Reinforcement (increases behavior): Positive (reward) and negative (removal of punishment).
• Punishment (decreases behavior): Positive (introduction of punishment) and negative (removal of reward).
• Skinner Box: Device for studying operant conditioning.

Operant Conditioning - Examples

• Rewards and punishments that influence behaviour, especially through computer games and child behaviour.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA): An approach used to change children's behavior based on operant conditioning.

Classical and Operant Conditioning

• Focus on simple stimulus-response associations.
• No consideration of cognitive processes, attitudes, beliefs, or social context.

Social Learning Theory

• Albert Bandura (1925-2021): Canadian-American psychologist
• Social behavior learned by observing and imitating others.
• Vicarious learning: Learning through observation.
• Bobo Doll Experiment: Children imitated adults' aggressive behavior towards a Bobo doll.

Social Learning Theory & Health Promotion

• Influence of media figures.
• Role models.
• Smoking.
• Importance in health campaigns.

Self-Efficacy/Health Locus of Control

• Self-efficacy: Belief in ability to enact behaviour, developed in social learning.
• Health locus of control (HLC): Degree to which an individual believes their health is controlled by internal or external factors.
• Internal HLC = positive health outcomes
• External HLC = negative health outcomes

Cognition and Social Cognition Models

• Relevant theories include cognitive dissonance theory, health belief model, and theory of reasoned action.
• Key elements involve cognition ("beliefs about health threat" and "beliefs about health-related behaviour"), such as perceived benefits and barriers, along with motivation and cues to action.

Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behaviour

• Developed by Ajzen and Fishbein.
• Behavior determined by intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms.
• Intentions are influenced by attitudes towards behaviour and subjective norms (beliefs about others' attitudes toward the behaviour).
• Perceived control: Belief in one's ability to successfully enact a behaviour.

Stages of Change Model (Transtheoretical Model - TTM)

• Developed by Prochaska and DiClemente.
• People pass through different stages of change in their willingness to change.
• 5 stages: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance.
• Interventions must be tailored to the stage where an individual is to help change behaviour.

Summary

• Different models offer nuanced understandings of health behaviors.
• Learning theories emphasize learned associations and observation.
• Cognition and social cognition models reflect attitudes, beliefs, and social norms.
• The stages of change model describes progressive stages of people's willingness to change behavior.

Conclusions

• Theories and models have individual strengths and weaknesses.
• Models may offer useful frameworks, but are not solely sufficient.
• Applying different models is appropriate depending on contexts and behaviors.
• Factors affecting behaviour are complex and dynamic.