Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

Which process from the Transtheoretical Model refers to substituting unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones?

1. Stimulus control

2. Consciousness raising

3. Reinforcement management

4. Counter-conditioning

The correct answer is: Counter-conditioning

Counter-conditioning is the process from the Transtheoretical Model that involves substituting unhealthy behaviors with healthier alternatives. This concept centers around the idea that one can change their behavior by replacing an undesired behavior with a more desirable one. For example, if someone is trying to quit smoking, they might take up chewing gum or engaging in physical exercise as a healthier coping mechanism to replace the act of smoking. Counter-conditioning is grounded in behavioral psychology, where the aim is to condition a negative behavior out of an individual while simultaneously reinforcing positive behaviors. This process is critical for effective behavior change, as it not only aims to reduce detrimental habits but also promotes the adoption of beneficial ones, ultimately leading to healthier lifestyle choices. The other options, while related to behavior change, serve different purposes within the change process. For instance, stimulus control involves altering the environment to reduce cues that trigger unhealthy behaviors, and consciousness raising focuses on increasing awareness about health issues to motivate change. Reinforcement management is about using rewards or consequences to encourage healthy behaviors, but it doesn’t specifically address the substitution aspect that counter-conditioning emphasizes.