The purpose of this thesis was to examine the influence of exercise motivation and body image on exercise behavior (using a multi-method approach), in order to better understand the phenomenon of unhealthy exercise. The first phase of this study was quantitative, and served to compare the exercise motivation (using Self-Determination Theory, Deci & Ryan, 1985) and perception of body image of "healthy" and "unhealthy" exercisers using a questionnaire. Specifically, 233 exercisers (102 males, 131 females) completed a questionnaire compiled of a self-reported exercise behavior scale (Salonen & Lakka, 1987), the Commitment to Exercise Scale (Davis et al., 1993), the Sport Motivation Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995), and the Body Cathexis Scale (Tucker, 1981). The self-reported exercise behavior scale and the Commitment to Exercise Scale were used to divide exercisers into "healthy" and "unhealthy" groups. In order to obtain a deeper, more complex, understanding of the phenomenon of unhealthy exercise specifically, a second qualitative phase (Phase 2) consisted of interviewing 4 exercisers (2 males, 2 females) identified in Phase 1 as having the most "unhealthy" exercise behaviors. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

La présente recherche porte sur les facteurs permettant de prédire la rupture d'une fréquentation de violence, utilisant comme cadre théorique la théorie du comportement planifié (Ajzen, I., 1985, 1988, 1991). Elle cherche à démontrer un lien entre l'intention de cesser la fréquentation et la rupture proprement dite, et à prédire l'intention à partir de trois déterminants: l'attitude comportementale, qui est l'attitude de la personne à l'égard de la cessation de la relation, la norme subjective, qui correspond à la perception que se fait la répondante quant à l'opinion des personnes importantes pour elle au sujet de la rupture, et enfin la perception de contrôles comportementaux, qui englobent les ressources et les obstacles associés à la rupture. L'étude a également pour objet de déterminer la relation entre les déterminants et les croyances. Finalement, elle explore l'influence de trois variables externes, soit l'intimité de la relation, la durée de la relation et la gravité de la violence sur la force de l'intention de cesser la fréquentation de violence. Les participantes ( n = 138) sont des étudiantes célibataires n'habitant pas avec leurs partenaires et qui se disent victimes de violence physique, de violence psychologique, ou d'agression à caractère sexuel, recrutées dans des cours d'introduction à la psychologie dans deux universités ontariennes. Les hypothèses sont vérifiées par des corrélations bivariées et des régressions multiples. Les résultats concordent, en partie, avec les prévisions tirées de la théorie du comportement planifié. Comme nous le supposions, la rupture d'une fréquentation de violence est prédite à partir de l'intention exprimée à cet égard. Cependant, seules l'attitude comportementale et la norme subjective sont prédictives de l'intention. Les corrélations entre les croyances et les déterminants sont positives et significatives. L'intimité de la relation améliore la prédiction de l'intention. L'intimité et la durée de la relation et la gravité de la violence sont associées à la rupture par l'entremise des croyances.

Schedule insensitivity of behaviours that are established through elaborate instructions is a frequently reported finding in the behavioural literature. This insensitivity usually takes one of two forms: (a) behaviour pattern that is not appropriate to the schedule in effect or (b) failure of the behaviour pattern to adjust once a new unannounced schedule is put in effect. However, a number of methodological flaws in previously published studies hinder a clear interpretation of these findings. The current series of studies attempted to rectify these problems by including sufficiently large groups of subjects (n = 14 or 15) to allow for acceptable levels of power. In addition, the same experimental task was used throughout to provide continuity. This task involved first establishing steady-state responding on a multiple DRL6s/FR18 schedule, and then changing the parameters of the schedule, without alerting subjects to this change. Experiment 1 attempted to replicate the previous findings that indicated that elaborate instructions induced schedule insensitivity when the multiple schedule was changed to EXT/EXT. Experiment 2 investigated the generalisability of the findings of Experiment 1 by examining the effect of a change in contingency to FR18/FR18. Experiments 3 and 4 investigated whether the findings of the first two studies were due to the effect of a "social variable" (the salience of the social stimuli). Experiments 1, 2, and 3 also investigated the effect of a "warning" that conditions may change at any tune. Overall, the results suggest that the warning decreases the schedule insensitivity engendered by the elaborate instructions. The results also suggest that the salience of the social stimuli is an important factor in producing the "insensitivity effect," and may be responsible for some of the more dramatic results in the literature. Further, the findings raise the question of whether instructions do, in fact, engender schedule insensitivity.

The present study attempted to understand exercise behavior change by applying a solid theoretical motivational framework, namely, self-determination theory (SDT; Deci and Ryan, 1985) with stages of exercise behavior change. This study also examined the relationship between exercise barriers and stages of change. A questionnaire, composed of several validated scales that assessed exercise behavior, exercise intentions, different forms of exercise motivation, and exercise barriers was administered to 74 employees of an electric power commission. Based on their exercise behavior during the past three months and their exercise intentions during the next three months, participants were placed in one of the following 6 stages: Stage 1 - sedentary individuals who want to maintain their sedentary behavior (n = 11; 15%); Stage 2 - sedentary individuals who want to increase their exercise behavior (n = 14; 19%); Stage 3 - moderately active individuals who want to maintain their exercise behavior (n = 8; 11%); Stage 4 - moderately active individuals who want to increase their exercise behavior (n = 17; 23%); Stage 5 - active individuals who want to maintain their exercise behavior (n = 11; 15%); or Stage 6 - active individuals who want to increase their exercise behavior (n = 13; 17%). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

There has been increasing pressure on all health-related disciplines, including epidemiology to translate research findings into practice. As a result, the need for valid and reliable data has become increasingly important. The primary objective of the present investigation was to develop a clinically relevant and psychometrically sound measure of motivation for the maintenance of smoking behaviour. A balance of clinimetric and psychometric strategies for scale development was employed. Based on a sample of 200 regular daily smokers, the present study revealed that there are three prominent and important factors that motivate smokers to maintain their smoking behaviour. Specifically, our data demonstrated that regular daily smokers are motivated to maintain their smoking behaviour to reduce or eliminate negative emotions, to satisfy their addiction to cigarettes and to obtain pleasure and relaxation. The literature, however, has identified at least seven factors that motivate smokers to maintain their smoking behaviour. Explanations for the discrepancy in the number of smoking motive factors observed are forwarded. Preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Smoking Motives Inventory and two of its subscales, namely Reduction in Negative Affect and Addiction, indicate strong support for the internal consistency reliability of the scale and initial support for its validity, Further work is required to develop the Pleasure and Relaxation factor. Finally, the implications of the findings and directions for future research are presented.

Previously published studies have shown that behavior under the control of instructions is likely to follow the instructions and not change when the schedule of reinforcement changes. A series of four experiments were designed to expand our knowledge of why rules produce this insensitivity. Once responding had been established on a multiple DRL 6 s/FR 18 schedule of reinforcement, an unannounced change in contingencies was introduced. All four experiments contained sufficient numbers of participants to permit the application of statistics in the data analysis. The experiments investigated (a) the effects of instructions on the speed and accuracy with which a new behavior was learned; (b) the "sensitivity" or rapidity of adjustment of the behavior to an unannounced change in contingencies as a function of whether it had been learned with the help of instructions. Experiment I attempted to replicate previous "insensitivity of rule-governed behavior" findings and examined schedule sensitivity as the multiple DRL 6s/FR 18 schedule changed to extinction/extinction. Experiment 2 aimed to increase this series of studies' ecological validity, by changing the schedule to something other (FR 18/FR 18) than extinction/extinction. In an attempt to counteract the insensitivity effect, Experiments 1 and 2 also examined the effect of a simple warning that "conditions may change at any time" on the behavior's rapidity of adjustment to changes in contingencies. In light of the results of the first two experiments, a selectionist framework was adopted in Experiments 3 and 4 to provide a procedural explanation for the insensitivity effect. The effects of the length of training, and of a variety of instructions were investigated in relation to the insensitivity of rule-governed behavior effect. Overall, the results have shown that instructions facilitate the acquisition of a new behavior. One of the studies has shown that providing a simple warning that conditions may change increased sensitivity in behavior following a change in contingencies. The results have suggested the elimination of length of training as a potential factor on the insensitivity of rule-governed behavior, in this specific series of studies. Providing a variety of instructions impacted significantly more on the Minimal Instructions groups' than the Elaborate Instructions groups' sensitivity to a change in contingencies. The results are explained in terms of the restriction in the behavioral repertoire during a change in contingencies.

Mental representation of hidden objects by pigeons was tested for. Experiment 1 used a series of Piagetian tests of "object permanence" to measure pigeons' capacity to find a stationary food target behind a screen. Performance on these tests did not differ significantly from chance in spite of manipulations designed to enhance the motivational value of the hidden object. Experiment 2 used operant contingencies to test whether pigeons could mentally represent a moving dot on a computer monitor that temporarily "disappeared" behind a screen. Two target durations were used (12 and 24 seconds) for the dot to move across a computer screen. Pigeons were reinforced if their first keypeck occurred when the dot was hidden but not if it occurred when the dot was visible. Phase 1 consisted of target-12 trials, phase 2 consisted of target-24 trials, and phase 3 consisted of alternating sessions of target-12 and target-24 trials. Results demonstrate that while pigeons were able to use timing strategies to respond correctly with an unconstrained choice method, evidence for the use of mental representations by pigeons was inconclusive. Both experiments are discussed in terms of the mechanisms used by pigeons to find hidden objects.

The present study investigated the relationship between competitive behaviour in a conflict situation and field-dependence-independence. It was hypothesized that individuals who scored toward the field-independent end of the FI-FD continuum would tend to be competitive whereas individuals who scored toward the field-dependent end would tend to be less competitive. The matching of individuals according to cognitive style was also considered. It was predicted that a FI-FI match would result in a greater number of competitive responses than a FD-FD match. The third hypothesis predicted that a FI-FD match would result in more competitive than cooperative responses being made. The research sample included individuals over nineteen years of age drawn from a variety of academic and occupational backgrounds. Eighty-four individuals participated (forty-four females and forty males). They were classified as either field-dependent or field-independent based on the Hidden Figures Test V and assigned to one of the three matched conditions. They then played the Prisoner's Dilemma game; the experimental conflict situation. T-tests were calculated comparing the mean number of competitive responses. The level of significance was set at (p < .05). Statistical significance was obtained for each hypothesis. These results indicated that there is a relationship between the degree of psychological differentation of an individual and his behaviour in a two-person conflict situation.

A series of three experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of self-monitoring for inducing weight loss as a function of goal-setting and unit of behavior monitored. The purpose of the pilot experiment was to provide a preliminary view of the usefulness of restraint monitoring as compared to caloric intake monitoring for weight reduction, of the contribution of goal-setting instructions to self-monitoring effectiveness, and of the use of implicit as compared to explicit goals in combination with restraint monitoring. Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 were both designed to look at the influence of various goal levels on the effects of self-monitoring, with the difference that caloric intake and restraint served as the unit of monitoring in Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 respectively. The analysis of the results indicated that restraint monitoring was as effective as caloric intake monitoring for inducing weight loss at the end of a 4-week period, that the effects of self-monitoring as a function of goal-setting varied according to the monitoring unit utilized, that the use of implicit goals in combination with restraint monitoring produced the same effects as the use of explicit goals, and that different levels of either caloric intake or restraint goal did not differentially influence self-monitoring effectiveness. The implications of these results were discussed and suggestions for follow-up research were proposed.

Of the numerous motivational variables that influence human behavior, the present investigation has endeavored to limit the scope of study to ego-involvement and group identification. To determine to what extent ego-involvement and group identification are effective motivational determinants, attention tests were administered under conditions of control to three groups of high school students matched according to age and I.Q. One group was put in an indifferent setting; a second group was put in a group identification setting; a third group was put in an ego-involvement setting. Formulations containing essential elements of the motivational factors were given to the students prior to testing. "t" scores were computed and revealed the following: a "t" score of .77 was found between the group with the indifferent setting and the group with the group identification; a "t" score of 3.8 was found between the group with the group identification and the group with the ego-involvement type of motivation; a "t" score of 4.58 was found between the group with the indifferent setting and the one with the ego-involvement. In the last two scores the difference was significant. An effort is made to account for these differences. Suggestions for further study are made for academic groups and the two sexes.