People Downplay Health Risks to Fulfill Their Goals

A Motivational Framework for Guiding Behavioral Policy

Bibliographic Data

ID22124530
AuthorsCatalina Kopetz (0000-0003-2697-2206, Wayne State University, corresponding author), Jacqueline Woerner (0000-0002-6704-5372, University of Central Florida), Jacqueline I Woerner (University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA)
Year2021
Volume8
Issue1
Pages92-100
Publication date2021-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolicy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2372-7322 • E-ISSN: 2372-7330
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/2372732220980093
OpenAlexW3130966905
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited75

Risky behaviors represent serious threats to health and the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Despite known negative consequences, people continue to abuse alcohol and drugs, to smoke, overeat, engage in risky sexual behavior, and drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs. This might happen because they perceive these behaviors as the best and sometimes the only means to fulfill important goals. To understand and to prevent health-risk behavior, scientists and policy-makers should consider the function that these behaviors serve. A theoretical framework based on the principles of goal pursuit helps explain (a) why health-risk behaviors become a means to people’s goals and (b) the psychological processes that facilitate initiation and maintenance of health-risk behaviors despite known negative consequences. Principles of goal pursuit could inform policy to reduce health-risk behaviors and their negative consequences

Environmental health · Health risk · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Medicine · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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Open DOIOpen Access