Psychology: Research and Review
Table 2 A selection of methods, parameters, and examples of applications (Bartholomew Eldredge et al., 2016; Kok et al., 2016)
Methods, theory & definitions | Parameters for use | Examples of applications |
|---|---|---|
Example of basic method at the individual level | ||
Modeling: Providing an appropriate model; being reinforced for the desired action (Social Cognitive Theory, theories of learning; Kazdin, 2012; Kelder et al. 2015) | Attention, remembrance, self-efficacy and skills; reinforcement of the model; identification with model; coping model instead of mastery model. | The health promoter finds a role model from the community or at-risk group who will encourage identification and serve as a coping model: “I tried to quit smoking several times and failed; then I tried… Now I have been off cigarettes for…” |
Example of method to change habitual, automatic, and impulsive behavior | ||
Cue altering: Teaching people to change a stimulus that elicits or signals a behavior (Theories of goal directed behavior, theories of automatic, impulsive and habitual behavior; Verplanken & Aarts, 1999; Wood & Neal, 2007) | Existing positive intention. | Dieters change the places they keep snack food in order to prevent taking the snack automatically. |
Example of basic method for change of environmental conditions | ||
Coercion: Attempting to control others against their will (Freudenberg & Tsui, 2014; Turner, 2005) | Requires or creates a power difference. | Health promotion activists organize a consumer boycott of a company that sells formula in developing countries. |
Example of method to change social support and social networks | ||
Developing new social network linkages: Linking members to new networks by mentor programs, buddy systems, and self-help groups (Theories of social networks and social support; Holt-Lundstad & Uchino, 2015; Valente, 2015) | Willingness of networks to reach out; availability of networks that can provide appropriate support and linkage agents. | Volunteers who are breast cancer survivors are linked to newly diagnosed patients to provide emotional and informational support. |