Psychology 1000 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Motivational Interviewing, Substance Abuse, Reinforcement
4 Jun 2018
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Reducing Behaviours That Impair Health
• A number of diseases can be transmitted through sexual contact, but most can be
treated
• In 1981, the fist AIDs case occurred and in the past 2 decades AIDs has grown from an
unknown disease into a worldwide epidemic with no medical cure
• About 16, 000 new infections occur each day – worldwide, 1/100 adults ages 15-49 is
infected and the disease has taken the lives of nearly 20 million
• Only 5-10 % of Aids cases presently occur in homosexual men and now women make
up half of all HIV cases
• AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which crippled the immune
system by killing cells that coordinate the body’s attack against invading viruses,
bacteria, tumours, which become the actual killers
• Vaccines presently are not preventing the spread of AIDS, and the incubation period
between initial infection and the appearance of the disease may be as long as 10 years –
meaning one may pass the disease without knowing it
• Major modes of transfer: infected semen, vaginal fluids, and blood through sexual
contact, the sharing of infected needles, and exposure to infected blood through
transfusion or in the womb
Prevention Programs:
• The existing means of controlling AIDS is by changing the high-risk behaviours that
transmit it
• AIDS is a psychological and medical problem
• Prevention programs are designed to educate people concerning the risks that attend
certain behaviours, such as having sex without a condom; to motivate people to change
their behaviour and convince them that they can; provide specific guidelines for
changing the risky behaviours and teach the skills needed for change; and give support
and encouragement for the changes
• These programs were once only directed to homosexual men, which used to be the
major group at risk
• For homosexuals, HIV transmission occurs through anal intercourse without use of a
condom
• These programs resulted in substantial and lasting changes in the use of condoms
during sex
• Another major target is heterosexual women, who have the highest rates and have the
potential of infecting their offspring
• The success of the prevention program depends on the extent to which the individual’s
social system supports the desired changes
• Some people of all groups have an irrational sense of invulnerability to infection, and
this belief contributes to a failure to engage in safe sexual practices
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