Behavioral Economics: Successful Behavior Change Research (Research Paper Sample)

Behavioral Economics: Smoking
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Behavioral Economics: Smoking
Models of behavior change and behavioral theories lack the capacity to bring about the desired change in an individual or predict the particular changes that one might undergo as a result of particular decisions (Wendel, 2013). However, they have the potential to help people in making decisions and choices on particular issues. This report aims at highlighting how the behavioral economics are applied in some issues in the society. Difficulties that individuals face in quitting smoking are discussed. Again, approaches that could be used to help such people to change from smoking are discussed. The report also presents the religious perspective and opinion on smoking. It is critical for medical and clinical practitioners to encourage smokers to change from the behavior because smoking exposes individuals to the risk of contracting diseases and conditions such as diabetes.
Overview of the theoretical and empirical evidence related to successful behavior change
The emergence field of behavioral economics has revolutionized the manner in which people make choices and changes in life. For instance, the standard economic theory makes the assumption that all people are rational and that as consumers, they make choices that enable them to gain maximal happiness or utility. However, other researchers have proven that most people find difficulties in making choices when faced with some situations.
Most of the difficulties that people make are because they find themselves in situations that are surrounded by uncertainty or because they are tough situations. As such, various studies have been conducted by researchers to establish ways that can be used to assist people in the decision-making process (McKenna, 2016). Such suggestions have been presented in reports, reviews, and books. Some of the studies give general information on issues like change while others focus on articular issues that individuals struggle to change or make decisions.
Smokers
Smoking is one of the issues that most people face a difficulty in quitting. The primary reason as to why smokers wish to quit the habit is because it a health issue that puts the health of the smoker at risk (McKenna, 2016). However, other factors such as religious and economic reasons also contribute. Most of the individuals who smoke develop health issues in their respiratory system. Providing clinical care to such people involves assisting them on how to quit smoking and facing the challenges that make changing the habit also impossible.
Challenges of Sustaining Behavior Change among Smokers
Several challenges are faced in the attempt to sustain behavior change within the population of smokers. One of the common challenges is that they develop conditions such as dizziness when they fail to smoke. That one of the effects of withdrawal symptoms especially when one is addicted to smoking (McKenna & In Neill, 2011). They also claim that the drugs no longer have strong effects on them. They also have a feeling of dip and craving for products that are stronger and have a higher content of nicotine. That shows the level to which they have been addicted. As such, they find it easy to do without smoking. Most of them claim that they would prefer to switch to the use of stronger nicotine drugs whenever they get the chance.
Another challenge that they face is that nicotine products are common and affordable. That makes them readily available. As such, they find it difficult to resist the urge to smoke, given them the drugs are within their rich. That suggests that the availability and affordability of the drugs is one of the most critical causes that inhibit behavioral change among smokers.
Smokers also cite the issue of bad influence and company as another problem that hinders behavioral change (McKenna & In Neill, 2011). Among most of the smokers who seek medical attention, it is evident that they have attempted to quit smoking at one time in their lives. Others have also expressed the desire to change. However, they claim that most of their friends are smokers. Those are the circles of life that they form as smokers. Alienating oneself from such groups becomes an uphill task, making quitting almost impossible.
Innovative Approaches used to Educate and Motivate Smokers towards better Health
Modern research studies have established innovative approaches that can be used to motivate and educate smokers towards quitting smoking and practicing better health. One of such ways is the use of videos of the effects of smoking. Researchers suggest that medical and clinical practitioners can organize events where smokers are invited for guidance and counseling.
Videos are some of the best ways of teaching people because they see the reality of the matter. They should be shown how the health of smokers deteriorates and how they develop complex conditions such as liver cirrhosis (McKenna & In Neill, 2011). As such, they can be assisted to stop smoking. The videos can also be used to teach them other effects of smoking apart from health hazards.
Guiding and counseling also plays a critical role in teaching and educating smokers on the health effects of smoking. Whenever they visit healthcare facilities for treatment, nurses and doctors should use the opportunity to teach them. They should also help them to understand any implications of smoking on their condition and health status. Such teaching should be done to all people regardless of whether or not they smoke so that they can help smokers in the society.
Modern equipment of diagnosing implications of smoking has been devised. They are used in detecting cases such as cancer of the liver (McNeer & Newton Daily News, 2011). They produce images, such as the scanners. Such images are critical for use in educating smokers. That is a way of showing them evidence of how smoking affects their health. After these approaches have been implemented, smokers should also be assisted to quit smoking. One way of helping them is by advising them to reduce the frequency at which they smoke. That helps in ...