Health promotion psychology: Legislation (concept)

What is it?

Education and legislation are amount the strartagies available to persuade individuals to change their behaviour to reduce the risk of injury/poor health. Legislation refers to the law an more specifically on this case,changes to the law which are designed to reduce risk of injury/poor health. In essence, people are no longer given free will over certain behaviours.in the latter part of the 20th century laws were passed in the UK enforcing the wearing of seat belts in cars and reducing the risk of alcohol consumption in drivers. Both legal restrictions have undoubtably saved lives. However, not all legitislation is as successful e.g. Laws against drug taking, this is because some legitislation causes a increase by making things like drugs more expensive on streets so more drug dealers appear etc.

How can it be applied to health?

 Legislation can have a powerful and immediate effect on health behaviours as it is a effiecient way of affecting the enviroment and context in which health behaviours are implremented. Legislative approachs tend to focus onthe measures that act tocreat barriers which reduce the cues to unhealthynehaviours.These measures include restricting availibility, taxation and reduced advertisements.Changes in the law force peopleto adhere to a particular behaviour, However it is only effective if it is enforced

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantage: legitislation reachs a large population very fast and actually reduces the free will choice of committing a dangerous behaviour and will greatly increases the barriers to the HBM as large fines etc happen if the behaviour is commited

Disadvantage: it's at the discretion of police meaning it's up to each police officer if they choose to enforce the law or not. And some petty laws are not enforced for example littering does usually not get enforced so people don't see the consequences therefore the behaviour continues, it needs to be regularly enforced.