Thought/Reflection Paper #2, Chapter 9 – Applying Social Psychology to Health
Using one of the three behaviour change models presented in this chapter (Health Belief
Model, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Transtheoretical model) provide a critical review
of how well that model described your own attempts to change a particular health
behaviour.
For example, if you have tried to quit smoking or tried to go on a diet detail how the
Transtheoretical model applied to your attempts and progress with that behaviour. You
can use any health behaviour you wish, either one you are currently attempting or one
that you have successfully or unsuccessfully attempted in the recent past.
Your paper should include a brief introduction to the health behaviour you are applying
the model to in addition to a brief overview of the model you choose. Next you should
describe each stage or component of the model and describe how it applied to your own
situation. Finally, provide a critical reflection on the performance of this model for
describing the reasons why you did or did not succeed with this health behaviour (or
whether you think you will succeed or not in the case of ongoing attempts). Although you
can provide your personal opinion here about the merits and/or problems of this model
please try to support your opinions by linking it directly to the model rather than simply
saying “I don’t like the model”. In other words what about the model do you think is
lacking, what did work, etc. You can include in this section what you believe the
limitations are of the model with respect to the particular behaviour you have applied it
to.
PLEASE NOTE: The due date for this paper has been extended from in class/noon
March 6 to March 8