LA.C Theories, treatments and maintenance

• 3 factors of hovland-yale theory


  communicator - must have high credibility and expertise

  communication - should have an emotional appeal and should be two sided

  recipients - low intelligence + low self esteem = less likely to understand, more easily persuaded
• hovland-yale research support

  Hovland + Weiss; yale uni students presented with the same message in an academic journal (high credibility) and a tabloid (low credibility) they were more persuaded by the academic journal, over time agreement with the high credibility source decreased due to the sleeper effect
• fear arousal theory

  negative reinforcement - fear causes unpleasant physiological and psychological arousal, people try to avoid this

  curvilinear relationship - too much or too little fear arousal does not lead to behaviour change
• fear arousal theory research support - dental hygiene

  Janis + Feshbach; 3 groups (strong, moderate, minimal fear) shown info about dental hygiene - 36% of min fear changed, 22% of mod fear changed, 8% of str fear changed, negative correlation
• fear arousal theory research support - tetanus vaccine

  Dabbs + Leventhal; arousing fear made students more likely/intend to get vaccinated, positive correlation
• 2 routes of the elaboration-likelihood model


  central route - persuaded by the message, detailed, audience is interested and motivated, high elaboration because of evaluation

  peripheral route - persuaded by the attractiveness of the source, content isn't processed, limited elaboration because evaluation is minimal
• elaboration-likelihood model research support

  Petty et al; when involvement is high, argument quality was main influencing factor and expertise of the source had little influence (central) low involvement, argument quality had no significance, but expertise did (peripheral)
• stress management: drug therapies 


  physiological; anti-anxiety drugs = anxiolytics e.g. benzodiazepines (BZ's) and beta blockers (BB's)
• stress management: drug therapies - benzodiazepines


  reduce physiological arousal of the CNS - neurotransmitter GABA inhibits activity of neurons, BZ's enhance effects if the GABA leading to less activity in the CNS, serotonin increases neuron activity, but BZ's disrupts serotonin function
• stress management: drug therapies - beta blockers 


  act on the sympathetic branch and reduce arousal in preparation for the fight or flight response, don't effect brain activity, but block receptors in the heart + blood vessels so they aren't stimulated by adrenaline or noradrenaline
• stress management: biofeedback


  physiological - uses technology to present the unconscious automatic responses in an obvious form by letting us see + hear our physiological function
• stress management: biofeedback - 3 phases 


  phase 1 - electrodes used to show heart rate + muscle tension in image

  phase 2 - relaxation techniques + breathing exercises are taught to reduce physiological activity

  phase 3 - techniques are transferred to the real world
• stress management: over the counter remedies 


  physiological - herbs can be bought to reduce anxiety, act as a mild sedative and promote relaxation and better sleep (valerian tablets, chamomile tea, lavender oil)
• stress management: exercise 


  physiological - replicates symptoms of fight or flight, providing the body with a small dose of stress, increasing resilience - releases endorphins which act as painkillers and increases the production of dopamine
• stress management: stress inoculation training (SIT)


  psychological - a form of CBT that changes how you think about a stressor and gives protection against future stressors
• stress management: stress inoculation training (SIT) - 3 phases 


  phase 1 - cognitive preparation; identifying and understanding stressors

  phase 2 - skill acquisition; learning to cope with stress

  phase 3 - application; client gradually transfers the skills learnt to the real world
• stress management: stress inoculation training (SIT) - research support 


  Meichenbaum + Cameron; created in 1973 to target stress and helps clients learn how to cope in advance
• stress management: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) 


  psychological - cognitive restructuring; change irrational thinking underlying addictions and stress, and learn to avoid high risk situations or how to cope better in them
• stress management: social support 


  psychological - a collection of people with whom we interact, it relaxes us and reduces physiological arousal of the nervous system
• stress management: social support - 3 types 


  instrumental support - practical help

  emotional support - positive feelings

  esteem support - increases self efficacy and confidence in one's ability
• stress management: mindfulness 


  psychological - relieves stress by being present in the moment and not worrying about the future or past, allows the regulation of thoughts, feelings and emotions
• treatments for addiction: drug therapies 


  physiological - 3 types

  aversives: produces an unpleasant consequence

  agonists: drug substitutes that attach to receptors on neurons + produce similar effects

  antagonists: attach to receptors and block them so drugs can't produce usual effects
• treatments for addiction: drug therapies - nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) 


  NRT molecules attach to receptors in neurons in ventral tegmental area (VTA) and stimulate the effects of dopamine
• treatments for addiction: drug therapies - bupropion 


  attach to receptors in the VTA and reduces dopamine release, which is associated with reduced cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• treatments for addiction: drug therapies - opioid antagonists 


  block the opioid reward system so gambling doesn't produce a rewarding dopamine release
• treatments for addiction: nicotine substitutes 


  physiological - NRT provides a dose of nicotine without harmful effects of the cigarette smoke, attaches to the VTA and releases dopamine
• treatments for addiction: drugs for alcohol addiction 


  physiological - 2 drugs

  disulfiram: makes drinker sensitive to alcohol and induces the effects of a severe hangover (association)

  acamprosate: stabilises the GABA so that cravings are reduced and relapse is less likely
• treatments for addiction: aversion therapy 


  psychological - counterconditioning, drug is associated with a new, unpleasant, unconditioned response

  covert sensitisation - client imagines how unpleasant symptoms would feel
• treatments for addiction: aversion therapy - examples 


  alcoholics - drugs called emetics induce vomiting, before they can vomit, they're given alcohol, leading to negative association

  gamblers - given an electric shock each time they look at an image associated with gambling
• treatments for addiction: CBT 


  psychological - functional analysis - identify high risk situations and find what irrational thoughts trigger cravings

  cognitive restructuring - forces client to rethink their irrational beliefs

  behaviour change - client learns new skills

  relapse prevention - strategies given to deal with high risk situations and irrational cognitions
• treatments for addiction: skills training - skills 


  psychological

  assertiveness training - increasing means that conflict in relationships won't result in addictive behaviour

  anger management - allows client to channel negative emotions constructively

  social skills training - may reduce the anxiety that leads to addiction
• treatments for addiction: skills training - techniques 


  group discussion - small groups, each person can share their experiences

  modelling + role play - demonstration + imitation

  homework - client practices in the real world

  visualisation - client imagines situations where they've been assertive
• treatments for addiction: mindfulness 


  psychological; allows them to become aware of their behaviour

  chocolate exercise - smells a piece of chocolate and experiences their automatic cravings
• treatments for addiction: counselling 


  psychological - positive therapeutic relationship

  counsellors provide emotional support without judgement and produce a relapse plan
• treatments for addiction: guided self help 


  psychological

  client becomes their own therapist using online resources, may include advice about CBT techniques, assisted by a wellbeing practitioner who may set goals
• non-adherence

  only 50% of patients follow treatment according to instruction; some choose not to due to logical and rational thinking
• reasons for rational non-adherence 


  cost-benefit analysis - patients will weigh up the benefits and costs of following medical advice
• cost-benefit analysis (costs ex.)

  potential side effects, financial barriers, patient-practitioner relationship, lack of understanding
• reasons for non-adherence: research support

  Bullpitt + Fletcher; most participants adhere to medical advice for hypertension but some choose non-adherence due to costs like side effects, supports cost-benefit analysis
• reasons for non-adherence; Ley's cognitive model


  adherence depends on 3 main factors: understanding, recall + satisfaction