However, perhaps an understanding of sexual behaviour can only take place within the
wider context of educational influences, power relations, community norms and theories
about sexuality.ASSUMPTIONS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
The research into sex and contraceptive use highlights some of the assumptions that are
central to psychology as follows:1 Methodology accesses information, it does not create it. It is believed that
questionnaires/interviews provide us with insights into what people think and
believe. However, does the method of asking questions influence the results? For
example, do people have beliefs about risk until they are asked about risk? Do people
have behavioural intentions prior to being asked whether they intend to behave in a
particular way?
2 Individuals can be studied separately from their social context. Social psycholo-
gists have studied processes such as conformity, group dynamics, obedience to
authority and diffusion of responsibility, all of which suggest that individuals behave
differently when on their own than when in the presence of others and also indicate
the extent to which an individual’s behaviour is determined by their context. How-
ever, much psychological research continues to examine behaviour and beliefs out
of context. To what extent can psychological research incorporate the context? To
what extent should it attempt to incorporate the environment?? QUESTIONS
1 To what extent do decision-making models predict contraceptive use?
2 Is contraceptive use a rational process?
3 Can social cognition models be expanded to understand contraceptive use as an
interaction?
4 Why do people use condoms?
5 How can qualitative research contribute to an understanding of condom use?
6 To what extent can psychology incorporate the context of a behaviour?
7 To what extent do the problems highlighted by the sex literature relate to other
health behaviours?
8 Describe a possible research study aimed at predicting condom use in
adolescents.FOR DISCUSSION
Health education campaigns frequently use billboards and magazines to promote
safe sex. Consider a recent advertisement and discuss whether or not this would
encourage you to use condoms.208 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY