Links between Health and Behaviour - Essay Example

"Links between Health and Behaviour" is a decent example of a paper on the health system.
What is the Connection between Health and Behaviour?

Health determines how one behaves or reacts towards something. That is there is a connection between feeling and acting. For instance, an aggressive person will act politely when undergoing some illness or a certain discomfort. In addition, health problems make persons withdraw from the public and opt for secluded places where they can nurse their pains. Therefore, health is paramount to how one feels and acts. Behaviour is interdependent on an individual’s health, which is dependent on health-promoting factors.

What are some of the Behavioural Links to obesity, Violence, and HIV and AIDS?

Behavior refers to psychological processes that define the emotions or motives of a person. Certain diseases come because of adopting certain eating habits and behaviors. For instance, obesity results from the accumulated consumption of carbohydrates in the body. Lack of physical activities and choosing a sedentary lifestyle are behaviors that lead to obesity. On the other hand, excessive aggressiveness is a behavior that leads to violence. Additionally, people live in societies where behaviors of some of them aggravate others to anger causing violence. HIV and AIDS is a disease that results inform individuals having sex with infected parties. This behavior results in the killer disease.

Describe the Theory of Behaviourism

Behaviourism is a developmental theory based on learning through observation. The theory assumes that all things done by organisms are behaviors. Therefore, it endeavors to measure observable behaviors produced by a learner’s response to stimuli. Behaviourism is concerned with the correct response given and not why or how the knowledge is gained. In this regard, response to stimuli can be reinforced through positive or negative feedback to give the desired result. Behaviourism is a passive type of learning where the learners possess low processing skills and do not own the process.

What are Social Norms?

Social norms are customary rules that govern a group of people. Every society living together normally formulates some rules based on social functions. Although these laws are not formal, societies or groups enforce them through sanctions, bodily language, or communication cues. The rules act as a standard against which the society gauges their identity. Additionally, rules are restrictive in nature defining morality and ethical aspects of a certain group. Social norms play an important role in the groups under them. First, social norms fulfill important social functions such as welfare maximization and elimination of externalities. Secondly, the norms function as a guide to which defiant members of the group or societies are punished. Thirdly, social norms create conformity that allows people of different social classes to live together harmoniously.

What are some Concepts Behind Social Cognitive Theory?

Social cognitive theory focuses on the interaction between individuals and their immediate environment. This theory was originally referred to as social learning theory because it encompassed learning by observation. SCT assumes that individuals are keen enough to watch others perform a task and follow suit. The theory applies the principle of operant conditioning where individuals learn through negative or positive reinforcements. Individuals require a mentor to shape them in a certain manner. Self-efficacy is one concept developed to this theory, which determines an individual’s next move on acquiring behavior. It is the behavioral capability and confidence to overcome the obstacles to behavior.