The Science of Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolution - The Theory of Reasoned Action - Attitudes and Social Pressure
The Theory of Reasoned action proposes that what we do is mainly determined by our intentions which are determined by our attitudes and social pressure. So if you want to give yourself the best chance at exercising more this year, have a look at your attitudes toward exercise. Next look at the people your socialise with. Perhaps you can join a group exercise class or exercise with your friends.
Meanings for Memory – Patterns
Over the past weeks we have looked at how we can add meaning to help us remember things. This included how we familiarity and rhymes can help. This week we look at finding meaning through patterns. When things have a pattern, you are much more likely to remember them.
The Science of Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolution - You can do it!
Social Cognitive Theory would suggest that our success in our New Year’s Resolutions is largely reliant on our confident we are in doing that particular resolution. If we want to exercise more, we could get a friend to exercise with us giving us social modelling, seeing others successfully going to the gym and getting fitter/stronger (vicarious experience) and getting encouragement from those around us.
Meanings for Memory – Rhymes
The next way we can add meaning to help us remember is through rhymes. Cast your mind back to school when you were learning so many new things? Did your teachers use rhymes to help you remember things? Things like “I before e except after c’. Rhymes give meaning to material that doesn’t inherently have meaning and in doing so, helps us to remember.
The Science of Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolution - Behaviour Change Theories
If you are one of the many people who have made a New Year’s Resolution to exercise more, congratulations. This is a great goal for your health and wellbeing. Over the next weeks, we will look through theories of behaviour change. These are theories on how we can overcome the obstacles to behaviour change and achieve a significant change and give you the best chance of sticking with your NY resolution!