Behaviour change

 Purpose: This paper considers the role that theories of social practice can play in offering new insights into policymaking and practical interventions for behavioural and social change.  Design/methodology/approach: This is a conceptual paper. It provides a brief overview of the key features of practice theories pertinent to the field of behavioural and social change and critically reviews practice theoretical literature relevant to the field.  Findings: The paper argues that a social practice perspective offers more robust accounts of how social and behavioural change comes about than conventional approaches and offers novel insights and targets for interventions. Practice theories have made the most direct contribution to behaviour change in the context of sustainable consumption but offer insights to a range of empirical domains relevant to social business, including health promotion and organisational change.  Limitations: The efficacy of a social practice approach to behaviour change has yet to be empirically established and will require the development of a new evidence base.  Implications: Ongoing dialogue is needed between theoretical development, empirical research and practical interventions utilising practice theories. 2  Contribution: The paper's contribution is to review recent developments in practice theory, acknowledge the limitations of existing approaches and suggest potential routes to overcome them.

This paper uses identity theory and postmodern identity perspectives to analyse why high income groups often have values, attitudes and intentions to consume sustainably, yet tend
to have the highest energy consumption of any group. Two key arguments are presented. The first is that the affluent identity is opposed to the environmentalist identity and is more salient, desirable and likely to result in more social support and self-esteem rewards. Therefore, where both identities are held the affluent identity is likely to be more dominant and evoked in more circumstances. Second, the evocation of the affluent identity is liable to result in high-energy consumption. Despite some evidence of affluent identities being successfully connected by marketing with low-energy ‘green’ consumption, there is stronger
evidence of the affluent identity being consistently embedded symbolically within high energy consumption choices. Recommendations for marketing and social marketing are
made and a matrix to guide sustainable identity strategy is proposed.

Social marketing is contributing to a number of fields of research and the successful application of marketing tools and techniques in social issues is well established. Gordon’s (2013) Special Edition of the Journal of Social Marketing (Vol 3 Issue 3) challenged social marketing researchers to consider their endeavours in terms of new and fresh approaches. This issue challenges the social marketing domain to go beyond behaviour change and consider how social marketing can contribute to the fields of social innovation, social change, social advocacy and to develop macro or meso level social good (Kotler, 2013; Lusch, 2013). Social marketers must work across the various levels to enhance social good, this means that they must focus on activities and programs that go beyond behaviour change. Behaviour change contributes to and happens within the context of broader social change, while social change can manifest, demand, condition, or inhibit desirable change in human behaviour.

Recent cognitive models of trauma response predict that negative trauma appraisals are central to the development of psychopathological stress reactions. Fifty-nine civilian survivors of motor vehicle accidents (MVA; n = 24) and nonsexual assaults (n = 35) were assessed within 4 weeks of their traumatic event for acute stress disorder (ASD), prior traumatic events and prior mental health contact, and were administered the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory. Participants who were diagnosed with ASD displayed more maladaptive appraisals about their functioning following their trauma and reported higher levels of concern regarding anxiety symptoms than those who were not diagnosed with ASD. Negative beliefs were strongly associated with acute stress severity. These findings are discussed in the context of cognitive mechanisms that may influence maladaptive adjustment following trauma.

Currently, the evidence for mobile health (mHealth) smoking cessation interventions is limited and heterogeneous, warranting the need for innovative rigorously developed solutions. The aim of this study was to describe the development of a smoking cessation smartphone application (app) developed using evidence-based principles. The app (Kick.it) was designed using the Intervention Mapping framework, incorporating an extensive literature review and qualitative study, in combination with the Behavioural Change Taxonomy v1, the Theoretical Domains Framework, and the Persuasive System Design framework. Kick.it provides quit smoking education, skills training, motivational content and self-regulation functionality for smokers, as well as their social support network. By logging cravings and cigarettes smoked, users will create their own smoking profile, which will be used to provide tailored interventions. It hosts a social network to allow 24/7 social support and provides in-app tools t...

Authors:Marian Hernon, James Matthews, Suzanne Guerin, Amanda Hall, Chris Lonsdale, Deirdre Hurley
Purpose: To identify the barriers and enablers to
implementing evidence based communication skills
training into Physiotherapy practice for low back pain
management using the Theoretical Domains
Framework (TDF).
Relevance: Transferring evidence into practice has
been identified as a priority by healthcare
organisations to ensure high quality care for patients.
However, interventions designed to support this
process have produced inconsistent results.
Participants: Nine physiotherapists from primary
care clinics in Dublin who had completed an 8-hour
evidence based communication skills programme and
treated patients with CLBP within the CONNECT
trial.
Methods: A qualitative design using two focus
groups was employed to assess physiotherapists'
perceptions of the barriers and enablers to
implementing the CONNECT communication skills
in clinical practice.
Analysis: The data were transcribed verbatim and
analysed using deductive thematic analysis, using the
TDF.
Results: Four main domains were identified; two
were related to factors that lie outside the individual
(i.e. lack of social support and environmental and
resource constraints), and two were related to
individuals' motivation and capabilities (i.e. self -
confidence to implement the training and
behavioural regulation).
Conclusion: To enhance the likelihood of successful
implementation of evidence-based training in clinical
practice, interventions designed to change
physiotherapists' clinical practice should first assess
the barriers and enablers using a theoretical
perspective before choosing appropriate
implementation strategies.
Keywords: Communication Skills, Physiotherapy
Practice
Funding Acknowledgements: Health Research
Board for funding the CONNECT trial

The effectiveness of individually administered cognitive processing therapy (CPT) when compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in a community sexual assault centre was tested. Trauma survivors with acute stress disorder (ASD) following sexual assault were randomised to either CPT (n = 25) or TAU (n = 22), and assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Both groups demonstrated large reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms following treatment, and these gains were maintained over the course of follow-ups (Cohen's ds for PTSD symptom reductions ranging between 0.76 to 1.45). Although smaller and not always consistent, between-group effect sizes typically favoured CPT. Effect sizes (d) ranged between 0.13–0.50 for posttraumatic stress and 0.13–0.41 for depression over the course of follow-ups. Independent assessment of PTSD severity indicated more CPT participants reached good end-state functioning at 12-month follow-up (50%) than TAU (31%). Althou...

The quest of Terre des hommes' (Tdh), South Asia WASH team for a structured systematic process in hygiene interventions seems appropriate through inclusion of Social Marketing (SM) approach. Social Marketing that is also used for influencing behaviour for social gain (in contrast to the corporate financial gain in case of commercial marketing), is also found to be applicable in community mobilization for water sanitation infrastructure sustainability and in the development of appropriate WASH infrastructure features. Further, Social Marketing is also found to be compatible with the logical framework approach of project cycle management. This paper briefs these aspects of Social Marketing along with its major features that are found to be relevant in the plan of Tdh in its application to address the issue of hand washing with soap.

This report includes findings from online surveys tracking the dietary habits, goals, perceived barriers, and motivators for participants in seven reduction and vegan campaigns in the UK over a six-month period. This includes the largest sample of meat reducers, pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans (veg*ns) in any research project to date (n=1,587) and also includes findings from participant focus groups (n=33) and interviews with campaign staff members (n=13).

The proportion of the British population reducing their consumption of animal food products has increased dramatically over the last decade, while vegetarian and vegan options are now widely available in supermarkets and restaurants across the UK. This phenomenon presents vital benefits for climate change, environmental degradation, human health and animal welfare. Yet, little research has investigated the rapidly growing trend. A broader understanding of the decision to reduce one's consumption and the cognitive, social and physical processes involved in maintaining dietary changes is essential for policy makers, campaigners and researchers working toward a sustainable future. Meat reduction and vegan campaigns by non-governmental organisations serve as a primary promoter of reduction and present a unique opportunity to research reducers when they may first be seeking a dietary transition. The theoretical framework employed within this dissertation combines the first comprehens...

The proportion of the British population reducing their consumption of animal food products has increased dramatically over the last decade, while vegetarian and vegan options are now widely available in supermarkets and restaurants across the UK. This phenomenon presents vital benefits for climate change, environmental degradation, human health and animal welfare. Yet, little research has investigated the rapidly growing trend. A broader understanding of the decision to reduce one's consumption and the cognitive, social and physical processes involved in maintaining dietary changes is essential for policy makers, campaigners and researchers working toward a sustainable future. Meat reduction and vegan campaigns by non-governmental organisations serve as a primary promoter of reduction and present a unique opportunity to research reducers when they may first be seeking a dietary transition. The theoretical framework employed within this dissertation combines the first comprehensive model of behaviour change, the Behaviour Change Wheel (Michie, Atkins and West 2014), with the fields of social consumption and sustainable and ethical consumption to analyse the reducer and the reduction process through a more comprehensive framework. A mixed-methods approach has been used to investigate the barriers, motivators and goals of participants in seven UK-based meat reduction and vegan campaigns through focus groups (n=33) and a longitudinal web-based survey (n=1,587). To the best of the researcher's knowledge, this represents the most comprehensive study of reducers and reduction campaigns to date. Interviews with campaign staff (n=13) and an examination of campaign messaging and strategies have been used to further analyse campaign participation and the reduction process. Findings reveal key trends within highly diverse approaches to reduction, including a reduction hierarchy that prioritises red meat and neglects fish and egg reduction through a tendency for small, gradual dietary changes. While meat reducers were likely to be successful on a short-term basis, they were unlikely to maintain reductions over a prolonged period. Those with the greatest levels of abstention were, instead, the most likely to meet their reduction goals. Animal protection also emerged as key for many reducers, potentially creating a new perspective - a mindshift - that re-positions the animal source within the consumption process. Findings suggest that policy makers, campaigners and advocates need to consider the psycho-social element within the reduction process, with the potential for a wide variety of consumer types and, importantly, the need to not simply address what is consumed but to address normative omnivorous consumption that is formed around a meat component and de-values meatless meals.

High-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders display social skill deficits that can have a debilitating impact on their daily lives. The Secret Agent Society (SAS) program has been shown to be effective in improving the social skills of these children when delivered in a group setting. This pilot study evaluated whether individually delivered SAS would yield similar outcomes. Three participants were recruited for the 9-week intervention. Measures of social competence were administered at four points: pretest 1, pretest 2, post-intervention, and 6-week follow-up. Participants showed significant improvement in half of the measures assessing social competence. On a third of these measures, two participants demonstrated improvements to within the range of their typically developing peers. Follow-up results suggested that improvements were maintained at 6 weeks’ post-intervention. Limitations of this study and directions for future research are discussed.

The use of interactive technology for changing, shaping or reinforcing attitude or behaviour which is commonly known as persuasive technology is currently attracting attention in information systems research. Persuasive technology combines the positive attributes of interpersonal interaction and mass communication to achieve optimal persuasion. It aims to accommodate individual difference during persuasion: a situation which is not commonly characterised with mass media persuasion.
Amidst the benefits it brings to behavioural and attitudinal change interventions, current research have demonstrated that there is a lack of methods for its design. Consequently, most of the existing persuasive technology applications do not follow systematic processes during the design phases.
As an attempt to remedy this situation, the Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) model has been introduced. However, although the PSD model provides a guide on what should be considered during analysis, design and evaluation, it fails to provide adequate information on how it should be done. Thus designers know what to do but not how to do it.
To address this limitation, this study presents the 3-Dimensional Relationship between Attitude and Behaviour (3D-RAB) model and the Unified Framework for Analysing, Designing and Evaluating persuasive technology (U-FADE).  The 3D-RAB argues that by analysing and identifying the various levels of cognitive dissonance of users before and during behaviour interventions, designers can craft persuasive messages to enhance persuasion. The U-FADE on the other hand expands the PSD model to include the 3D-RAB model and provide steps that can be followed to develop persuasive technology applications. The model and the framework were validated and it was observed that the U-FADE and the 3D-RAB are both effective for persuasive technology design.

Fourteen ‘treatment resistant’ problem gamblers received 9 weeks of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) at specialist problem gambling services delivered in Melbourne, Australia. This study is the first to investigate the effectiveness of a brief DBT treatment for problem gambling, with a focus on measuring change in the four DBT process skills (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion dysregulation, and negative relationships). Although there were no statistically significant improvements in measures of gambling behaviour, 83% of participants were abstinent or reduced their gambling expenditure pre- to post-treatment. Participants also reported statistically and clinically significant improvements in psychological distress, mindfulness, and distress tolerance. Moreover, there were no increases in alcohol or substance use. These results are discussed in the context of focusing on a single DBT process skill, and the benefits of using group-based approaches.

The purpose of this paper was to discover a robust method to aid in the assistance of reducing and resolving canine behavioural issues related to walking on the lead. 

Three hundred dogs were studied over a single calendar year and the data was analysed in a cyclical method to develop and further improve the technique until a final nine step process was decided upon which resulted in the resolution of all lead based behavioural issues to the dogs studied.  Dogs of all sizes, breeds and severity of behaviour were studied at Obsidian K9 Academy in South Yorkshire.

It was found that a balanced approach was the most suitable approach for all dogs in the study and more so those with severe behavioural issues which could result in dangerous consequences if left untreated.  No dogs showed any increase in stress symptoms or aggression and all the dogs achieved the success criteria within sixty minutes.  The method will be available for public use and professional use to assist in the resolution of these behaviours moving forward.  The conclusion of the paper is such that all dogs are able to achieve the desired success criteria but longer-term studies on owner participation away from a professional would be preferable.

Despite good intentions, the increasing number of plastic bag bans aimed at alleviating marine plastic pollution saw a correlated increase in the number of unintended consequences that emerged alongside the bans, suggesting that human behavior towards plastic bag consumption have not changed, but merely shifted, and are feeding into other major international environmental catastrophes. Nudge theory, which helps people make better choices for themselves without inhibiting their free will, is a potential solution that has been shown to play a subtle but important role in providing options under circumstances where complex information needs to be streamlined for the wider community, avoiding any unintended consequences and behavioural shifts that might arise from instruments that diminishes autonomy. It is therefore timely to look into the insights of nudge theory to encourage a positive behavioural change to reduce plastic bag consumption. Here we apply a systematic literature review to show how successful applications of nudges in supermarkets can be leveraged to reduce plastic bag consumption. We find that the current applications of nudges in various industries worldwide, including supermarkets have produced positive and encouraging results, as well as producing lasting behavioural change among the wider community. Supermarkets are identified as a powerful deployment site of these nudges due to their positioning as a dominant provider of plastic bags to the wider community, as well as being the largest and leading provider of daily food needs. Finally, we synthesise our findings to produce a coherent and testable framework of actionable interventions that supermarkets can employ to nudge customers towards reduced plastic bag reliance, accompanied with a visual timeline of a customer shopping in a supermarket experiencing these nudges.

Despite good intentions, the increasing number of plastic bag bans aimed at alleviating marine plastic pollution saw a correlated increase in the number of unintended consequences that emerged alongside the bans, suggesting that human behavior towards plastic bag consumption have not changed, but merely shifted, and are feeding into other major international environmental catastrophes. Nudge theory, which helps people make better choices for themselves without inhibiting their free will, is a potential solution that has been shown to play a subtle but important role in providing options under circumstances where complex information needs to be streamlined for the wider community, avoiding any unintended consequences and behavioural shifts that might arise from instruments that diminishes autonomy. It is therefore timely to look into the insights of nudge theory to encourage a positive behavioural change to reduce plastic bag consumption. Here we apply a systematic literature review ...

To some this may not seem the most appropriate of titles, but please bear with me. The 1982 film First Blood was an action cum psychological thriller regarding the battle of both physical and mental wills, of the central character, John Rambo, (Sylvester Stallone) and the sheriff of a small town, Will Teasle, (Brain Dennehy). It is of note to say that Dennehy is himself a veteran of the Vietnam era, but to reiterate he did not see active service in the Vietnam Theatre of Operations.

Upcycling is the creation or modification of a product from used materials, components and products which is of equal or higher quality or value than the original. Scaling-up upcycling, in theory, contributes ultimately to reducing carbon emissions by extending lifetimes of used materials, components and products, and thereby decreasing embodied energy. This PhD focuses on the emerging household behaviour of upcycling as niche environmentally significant behaviour. It aims to understand the current upcycling behaviour and factors that influence behaviour in order to develop design and policy interventions to influence behaviour in order to upscale upcycling.

Interviews, a short questionnaire study, a survey and use of a ‘semi-Delphi’ method (a questionnaire study followed by a workshop with experts) were employed. The interviews provided insights into current upcycling behaviour (e.g. approaches to and context for upcycling), behavioural factors influencing upcycling, and potential differences arising from demographic characteristics. The short questionnaire study showed that upcycling has potential to create high attachment leading to product longevity. The survey revealed UK-specific key behavioural factors of upcycling (intention, attitude and subjective norm) and the potential target groups for scaling- up (people in art and design aged 30 years or older) based on group differences. Synthesising the data from the interviews and surveys, 15 promising design and policy interventions for upscaling upcycling were formulated. These interventions were subsequently explored and evaluated through the semi-Delphi study. The outcome pinpointed the suitable actor(s) for each intervention and sets of important and feasible interventions for short-term and long-term success in scaling-up.

This research contributes further to knowledge in design for sustainable behaviour by suggesting interventions beyond product and communication design to influence behaviour, and demonstrating novel use of mixed methods consumer research based on a behaviour model and an existing framework for behaviour understanding and intervention. The research also contributes to knowledge in upcycling theory and practice by providing behavioural insights, factors influencing upcycling and promising interventions for upscaling upcycling in the UK. Finally, a contribution was made to consumer behaviour theory by suggesting and testing a new combination model to understand behaviour.

Abstract This research focuses on developing a theoretical framework for analyzing the emotional and personality-related aspects of career-decision-making difficulties. The proposed model is comprised of three major clusters: pessimistic views, anxiety, and self-concept and identity. In Study 1, the Emotional and Personality Career Difficulties Scale (EPCD) was developed, refined, and used to empirically test the model with an Israeli Internet sample (N= 728).

Riassunto.
L'esistenza di peggioramenti nei pazienti in psicote­rapia, feno­meno noto da tempo come "deteriora­mento", può essere studiato come effetto di errori di condotta tera­peutica a diversi livelli, oppure di carenze intrin­seche alle proce­dure, se l'errore in psicoterapia è concepito come lo scarto obiettivi-risultat­i, cioè l'er­rore proce­durale. Data sia la diffusione degli errori, per la dimostrata falli­bilità della mente umana, che la loro fertilità, si può definire uno sbaglio quello di sco­tomizzarli o sottovalutarli. È pos­sibile vedere nei fallimenti la conse­guenza di uno o più sbagli rilevanti o sistema­tici, laddove un fallimento gra­ve e persistente po­trebbe essere indicato come "cata­strofe". Inoltre, il dubbio di poter essere in erro­re è mo­tore di ap­prendimento cognitivo, ovvero di nuova cono­scenza. Ciò è possi­bile qua­lora si accetti e quindi si cerchi l'errore, si cer­chi di controllarne le fonti, si co­struiscano ipotesi alternative, si esplorino nuove moda­lità o vie per rag­giungere un risultato desiderato o si riconoscano gli effetti di errori “fortunati”. A livello metodologico, si può mo­strare come il controllo delle fonti di errore sia alla base dello stesso meto­do speri­mentale. Questo pro­cesso ricorsivo di pro­blem solving può descrivere sia l'inte­razione terapeutica, sia l'iter procedurale in psi­coterapia cognitivo-comporta­mentale, nella pra­tica cli­nica e nella ricerca.
Parole chiave: errori, psicoterapia, problem solving, metodo scientifico

Abstract.
Errors in psychotherapy are conceivable as mismatches between goals and outco­mes. So, the reality of worsening in patients during psychotherapy, a fact known as "deteriorat­ion", can be studied as an effect of therapeutic errors at different levels or as deficien­cies inherent to used procedures. Given both the diffusion of errors, as exam­ples of the demonstrated fallibility of the human mind, and their fertility, to underestimate or sco­tomize them can be defined as a mistake. We can see as failures are resulting from one or more major or systematic mistakes, whereas a serious and persistent failu­re might be referred to as "catastrophe". Furthermore, the doubt to be wrong is a propeller of cognitive learning, or new knowledge. This is possible if we accept the error and then try to look for its sources, if alternative hypotheses are built, and if we will explore new modes or ways to achieve a desired result or otherwise recognize the effects of "luc­ky" errors. At a methodological level, we can show how the control of sources of error is the basis of the experimental method itself of science. This recursive process of pro­blem solving can describe both the therapeutic interaction, and the formal procedures in cogniti­ve-behavioral psychotherapy in clinical practice and research.
Key words: errors, psychoterapy, problem solving, scientific method

Oral presentation /ABSTRACT
Nurses’ adherence to hand washing behaviour is usually not at the expected level. They have the tendency to abandon their behaviour. Main objective of this experimental study is to develop and implement an in-service training program based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour to
improve of candidate nurses’ adherence to the hand washing behaviour. This research consists of 210 candidate nurses with clinical experiences. A 46-items Likert-type scale developed by Bulbul with the title of ‘Scale for Assessment of Hand Washing Behaviour in the Frame of TPB’ for nurses was applied before and after the different training activities based on TPB for six groups. A monitoring program was also implemented in clinics. Self-efficacy, belief and behavioural intention scores increased significantly after the training activities in all groups
(p50.05). Female candidate nurses realised more improvements in the quality of the behaviour (p50.05). The cues for action in the working environment were found significantly effective as reinforcing factors. Correlations between the improvement of behavioural performances and the behavioural factors defined in TPB are also found meaningful. The TPB based intervention is effective for and recommendable in the improvement of the quality of and adherence to the hand washing behaviour of candidate nurses

This meta-analysis investigates two questions. The first question is whether social norm
interventions had been effective at inducing behaviour change across a range of target behaviours. The second question is whether the efficacy of social norm interventions as a tool for behaviour change has declined over the years. A meta-analytical approach is an appropriate analysis to answer a macro-level question about the efficacy of social norm interventions across target behaviours and over time. A meta-analysis using a random effects model on 18 relevant effect sizes revealed that social norm interventions are effective relative to control groups; the average effect size is 0.34 [0.22, 0.46]. This meta-analysis therefore provides evidence about the efficacy of social norm interventions in inducing behaviour change in comparison to control groups across target behaviours in fields of environment, health and food. Contrary to my hypothesis, the meta-regression with time as a moderator suggests that the efficacy of social norm interventions has been unaffected by time. It is possible that because the included studies were conducted on different sets of participants, the effect of habituation and psychological reactance was not captured by the meta-regression.

Recently a study was written by Egan, Hattaway & Kane, entitled 'The relationship between perfectionism & rumination in PTSD'. As I read the study and reflected on my own experiences, both professional and personal, and I found myself considering the question could excessive and deliberate rumination be considered a form of self harm if the individual knowingly revisited traumas?
To some that may be an offensive question. After all who would want to deliberately and outside of the clinical environment, wish to take time to revisit, and replay a trauma? Yet in its most basic form is this style of deliberate rumination behaviour not a kin to Dermophagia?