Reframing Health Behavior Change With Behavioral Economics

Behavioral economics is a rapidly developing area of psychological science that has synergistically merged microeconomic concepts with behavioral research methods. A driving force behind the growth of behavioral economics has been its recent application to behaviors that significantly affect health. The book examines the latest behavioral economic research on smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, obesity, gambling, and other poor health habits, and explores the implications for individual and community interventions and policy directions. This innovative book describes new concepts and methods developed in behavioral economics and applies them to understanding health behavior change. The richness of behavioral economic concepts provides novel methods and measures that lend to an understanding of health behavior that is different from previous work in the field. Featuring contributions from experimental and clinical psychologists and economists, this book will be of interest to a broad range of students and professionals concerned with health behavior, including researchers, clinicians, and policymakers, as well as psychologists, educators, and all those who work with people who are currently attempting to make positive health and lifestyle changes.

Warren K. Bickel (Edited by) ,  Rudy E. Vuchinich (Edited by)

Contents: G.A. Marlatt, Foreword. R.E. Vuchinich, W.K. Bickel, Preface. Part I:Behavioral Economic Concepts and Methods.G.J. Madden, A Behavioral Economics Primer. S.R. Hursh, Behavioral Economic Concepts and Methods for Studying Health Behavior. Part II:Price and Consumption.M.E. Carroll, U.C. Campbell, A Behavioral Economic Analysis of the Reinforcing Effects of Drugs: Transition States of Addiction. F.J. Chaloupka, R.L. Pacula, Economics and Antihealth Behavior: The Economic Analysis of Substance Use and Abuse. Part III:Substitutability Relations Between Activities.L. Green, E.B. Fisher, Jr., Economic Substitutability: Some Implications for Health Behavior. H. Rachlin, The Lonely Addict. Part IV:Health Behavior as Intertemporal Choice.A.W. Logue, Self-Control and Health Behavior. C.A. Simpson, R.E. Vuchinich, Temporal Changes in the Value of Objects of Choice: Discounting, Behavior Patterns, and Health Behavior. Part V:Specific Health Behaviors: Help Seeking, Smoking, Eating, Exercise, and Gambling.J.A. Tucker, J.W. Davison, Waiting to See the Doctor: The Role of Time Constraints in the Utilization of Health and Behavioral Health Services. K.A. Perkins, M.E. Hickcox, J.E. Grobe, Behavioral Economics of Tobacco Smoking. L.H. Epstein, B.E. Saelens, Behavioral Economics of Obesity: Food Intake and Energy Expenditure. P.M. Ghezzi, C.A. Lyons, M.R. Dixon, Gambling in Socioeconomic Perspective. Part VI:The Cultural Context of Health Behavior.W.K. Bickel, L.A. Marsch, The Tyranny of Small Decisions: Origins, Outcomes, and Proposed Solutions.