Applied Psychology

What is Applied Psychology?

A non-clinical pathway for psychology students that applies psychological theories to real-world problems.

What are the key areas of Applied Psychology?

1. Consumer Psychology 2. Behaviour Change 3. User Experience (UX) 4. Market and Social Research.

What is the focus of Behaviour Change in Applied Psychology?

It focuses on behaviour change for health and wellbeing, such as driver safety and cancer prevention.

What is Consumer Psychology?

The application of psychological theories to marketing, advertising, and consumer decision making.

What challenges are associated with changing behaviour?

1. Long-Term Behaviour Change 2. Difficulty of Change 3. Crowded Space 4. Design vs. Delivery.

Why is long-term behaviour change challenging?

It requires measuring shorter-term markers alongside long-term outcomes, unlike consumer campaigns.

What does the crowded space challenge refer to?

Behaviour change messages must compete with numerous issues like gambling and drinking, often with limited budgets.

What is segmentation in targeting messages?

A statistical technique to group populations based on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors for tailored messaging.

What are the segments identified in climate change research?

Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive.

What is the purpose of identifying knowledge gaps in behaviour change campaigns?

To address critical misperceptions that public health campaigns need to correct.

What are fear appeals in behaviour change?

Strategies that highlight a threat and provide a solution to amplify emotional responses.

What three variables are typically measured in fear appeal research?

1. Fear 2. Perceived Threat 3. Perceived Efficacy.

What does the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) explain?

It explains responses to fear appeals based on levels of threat and efficacy, leading to action or paralysis.

What is nudging in the context of behaviour change?

Influencing choices while maintaining the freedom to choose otherwise, without regulation or punishment.

What is Libertarian Paternalism?

Constructing choices to nudge people toward better decisions without removing their right to choose poorly.

What does the EAST Framework stand for?

Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely; principles for effective nudging.

What is the role of a Choice Architect?

Anyone whose job includes providing people with choices.

What is a multi-faceted approach in behaviour change campaigns?

Using various psychological principles and techniques to address complex behaviour change.

What psychological mechanism do fear appeals utilize in smoking cessation campaigns?

They evoke fear or multiple negative emotions (fear, guilt, sadness) to increase ad recall, quitting urgency, and confidence to quit.

How does plain packaging contribute to smoking cessation?

It changes environmental cues and uses graphic warnings as a behavioral deterrent, disrupting classical conditioning and positive emotional responses to branding.

What is the role of taxation in smoking cessation strategies?

Taxation punishes smoking through financial cost, discourages distant health costs via delay discounting, and encourages behavioral substitution for cheaper rewards.

How do support and quitline services enhance smoking cessation efforts?

They boost self-efficacy and use implementation intentions for structured if-then planning.

What is the impact of social norms on smoking cessation campaigns?

They position smoking as socially unacceptable, leveraging descriptive norms and injunctive norms to trigger cognitive dissonance.

What psychological theory is used in drink driving campaigns to change public attitudes?

Social Identity Theory, framing drunk drivers as outside the 'everyday, responsible Australians' group to create cognitive dissonance.

What is the purpose of Random Breath Testing (RBT) in drink driving campaigns?

RBT shifts the focus from distant consequences of crashes to immediate consequences like fines and public shame, serving as a behavioral surveillance cue.

How does the designated driver concept support responsible drinking behavior?

It encourages implementation intentions and pre-commitment to support goal-congruent behavior before self-control wanes.

What is the Illusory Truth Effect in the context of misinformation?

It refers to the increased likelihood of believing misinformation after repeated exposure.

How does heuristic processing affect the persuasiveness of misinformation?

Short, emotional posts are often more persuasive than scientific evidence, leading to heuristic (peripheral route) processing.

What is the Backfire Risk in misinformation debunking?

Poorly designed debunking that focuses too much on the myth can reinforce the false claim.

What is Inoculation Theory in counter-messaging?

It involves pre-emptive counter-argumentation that exposes people to a weakened version of a myth and then refutes it, building resistance against future misinformation.

How does framing influence the understanding of health messages?

The presentation of information can emphasize health benefits or positive outcomes rather than relying solely on fear.

What is the Truth Sandwich structure for debunking myths?

It consists of leading with the truth, acknowledging the myth, and providing a clear correction or explanation.

What is the goal of the Truth Sandwich in countering misinformation?

To ensure the correction is clear, memorable, and leads with the truth to avoid backfire effects.

What psychological concept does Social Proof represent in consumer psychology?

It indicates that seeing content from similar people signals that a product is popular and performs well.

How does Identity Signalling function in marketing?

Brands create a sense of belonging, allowing consumers to use products to reinforce their self-concept.

What are Parasocial Relationships in the context of consumer behavior?

Emotional connections to public figures that lead to aspirational purchasing and mimicry, such as celebrity endorsements.

How does Scarcity influence consumer behavior?

Limited availability increases perceived value and demand, often leading to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

What is the principle of Loss Aversion in consumer psychology?

It suggests that people hate losing progress more than they enjoy gaining it, influencing behaviors like streaks and the endowed progress effect.