5  Psychological Beliefs

This chapter explores five measures of psychological beliefs that shape how people think about control, agency, self-efficacy, and information seeking. These beliefs are critical for health communication because they influence whether audiences feel empowered to change their behavior, whether they seek or avoid health information, and what types of behavior change strategies are most effective.

ImportantPH 322 — Week 5: Behavioral Theory & Methods

This week applies behavior change theory to health communication. Your scores on free will beliefs, self-efficacy, and information avoidance help you understand how these psychological factors influence receptivity to health messages and the design of behavior change interventions.

5.1 Free Will & Determinism (FAD-Plus)

Constructs

The FAD-Plus (Paulhus & Carey, 2011) measures lay beliefs about free will and determinism across four subscales:

  • Free Will: Belief that people have complete control over their decisions and are responsible for their actions
  • Scientific Determinism: Belief that biology, genetics, environment, and science determine behavior
  • Fatalistic Determinism: Belief that fate, destiny, and mysterious forces control life outcomes
  • Unpredictability: Belief that life is random, unpredictable, and governed by chance

Measures

The FAD-Plus contains 27 items across four subscales (Free Will: 7 items; Scientific Determinism: 7 items; Fatalistic Determinism: 5 items; Unpredictability: 8 items) rated on a 5-point scale: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree. Higher scores indicate stronger endorsement of that belief.

Example items:

  • Free Will: “People have complete control over the decisions they make.”
  • Scientific Determinism: “People’s biological makeup determines their talents and personality.”
  • Fatalistic Determinism: “I believe that the future has already been determined by fate.”
  • Unpredictability: “Chance events seem to be the major cause of human history.”

Your Scores

FAD-Plus (A): Free Will & Scientific Determinism
Password Free Will FW(%) Sci Det SD(%)
$iorrZZ2425! 2.86 26% (low) 2.57 36% (mid)
'@Auliebear224757328el 3.57 64% (mid) 2.71 46% (mid)
5121lyster 2.71 15% (low) 2.57 36% (mid)
78fArO50r 2.71 15% (low) 1.71 0% (low)
Arlingtonfootball(333) 3.57 64% (mid) 1.71 0% (low)
Benny2013 3.29 44% (mid) 2.29 15% (low)
Binghamton1234 3.00 31% (low) 2.00 10% (low)
Birth2005 3.86 79% (high) 2.86 59% (mid)
Biscuit1227 3.43 54% (mid) 3.14 77% (high)
Bxqc3216 3.14 38% (mid) 2.57 36% (mid)
Damilola1976 3.71 72% (high) 2.43 31% (low)
December1912 2.14 0% (low) 3.71 97% (high)
Eski3754 2.43 8% (low) 2.29 15% (low)
Funkita732 3.14 38% (mid) 3.29 87% (high)
Goodwin7292()! 4.14 87% (high) 3.14 77% (high)
Health$402 3.43 54% (mid) 2.86 59% (mid)
Health1203 3.71 72% (high) 3.29 87% (high)
Littlekitty1019 2.14 0% (low) 2.71 46% (mid)
LongSurvey1234 4.29 97% (high) 3.29 87% (high)
Power2 3.43 54% (mid) 2.00 10% (low)
Rcool1229 2.57 13% (low) 2.71 46% (mid)
Strawberryhamburger3 4.00 85% (high) 2.29 15% (low)
Tinawatsonqwe1 3.86 79% (high) 3.00 69% (high)
VT1107lyn!Bing 3.00 31% (low) 3.00 69% (high)
biotinISneeded2313! 3.29 44% (mid) 2.29 15% (low)
brita6767 4.14 87% (high) 4.29 100% (high)
earth5567 4.57 100% (high) 3.29 87% (high)
ha1rcut 3.43 54% (mid) 3.14 77% (high)
health0925 2.86 26% (low) 2.71 46% (mid)
health1244 4.14 87% (high) 2.29 15% (low)
health1248 3.29 44% (mid) 2.43 31% (low)
health4103 3.57 64% (mid) 2.86 59% (mid)
jelly1909 3.00 31% (low) 1.86 5% (low)
kyunkyun3890 2.14 0% (low) 2.71 46% (mid)
schre0000 3.71 72% (high) 3.00 69% (high)
surv1901 3.29 44% (mid) 2.29 15% (low)
vidyaravi1 2.71 15% (low) 1.86 5% (low)
water6331 2.43 8% (low) 2.86 59% (mid)
water9813 4.14 87% (high) 2.57 36% (mid)
witch2026 2.71 15% (low) 3.14 77% (high)
FAD-Plus (B): Fatalistic Determinism & Unpredictability
Password Fat Det FD(%) Unpred UP(%)
$iorrZZ2425! 2.40 59% (mid) 3.62 85% (high)
'@Auliebear224757328el 2.20 49% (mid) 2.88 26% (low)
5121lyster 2.60 72% (high) 3.88 92% (high)
78fArO50r 2.20 49% (mid) 3.25 54% (mid)
Arlingtonfootball(333) 1.40 13% (low) 3.38 69% (high)
Benny2013 1.80 33% (low) 2.25 3% (low)
Binghamton1234 4.40 100% (high) 3.00 33% (low)
Birth2005 1.60 18% (low) 2.50 10% (low)
Biscuit1227 2.40 59% (mid) 2.50 10% (low)
Bxqc3216 2.60 72% (high) 3.25 54% (mid)
Damilola1976 1.75 31% (low) 3.25 54% (mid)
December1912 1.60 18% (low) 2.38 5% (low)
Eski3754 1.20 8% (low) 3.12 38% (mid)
Funkita732 2.60 72% (high) 2.75 18% (low)
Goodwin7292()! 1.80 33% (low) 3.50 79% (high)
Health$402 1.00 0% (low) 1.75 0% (low)
Health1203 1.80 33% (low) 3.12 38% (mid)
Littlekitty1019 2.40 59% (mid) 3.38 69% (high)
LongSurvey1234 2.60 72% (high) 3.12 38% (mid)
Power2 1.80 33% (low) 2.75 18% (low)
Rcool1229 1.00 0% (low) 3.38 69% (high)
Strawberryhamburger3 1.80 33% (low) 4.00 95% (high)
Tinawatsonqwe1 3.00 90% (high) 3.25 54% (mid)
VT1107lyn!Bing 3.00 90% (high) 2.88 26% (low)
biotinISneeded2313! 1.00 0% (low) 3.25 54% (mid)
brita6767 2.40 59% (mid) 3.00 33% (low)
earth5567 2.20 49% (mid) 3.12 38% (mid)
ha1rcut 1.40 13% (low) 3.12 38% (mid)
health0925 2.00 46% (mid) 2.50 10% (low)
health1244 2.20 49% (mid) 3.12 38% (mid)
health1248 2.40 59% (mid) 3.62 85% (high)
health4103 2.80 85% (high) 3.50 79% (high)
jelly1909 2.60 72% (high) 4.00 95% (high)
kyunkyun3890 1.60 18% (low) 2.38 5% (low)
schre0000 1.20 8% (low) 2.88 26% (low)
surv1901 3.20 95% (high) 2.75 18% (low)
vidyaravi1 2.80 85% (high) 3.62 85% (high)
water6331 1.60 18% (low) 3.25 54% (mid)
water9813 3.20 95% (high) 4.25 100% (high)
witch2026 1.60 18% (low) 3.38 69% (high)

Class Distribution

FAD-Plus (Pair 1): Free Will and Scientific Determinism. Dashed lines indicate 33rd and 67th percentiles.

FAD-Plus (Pair 2): Fatalistic Determinism and Unpredictability. Dashed lines indicate 33rd and 67th percentiles.

5.2 Health Self-Efficacy

Constructs

The Health Self-Efficacy Scales (Schwarzer & Renner, 2000) measure your confidence in maintaining healthy behaviors despite common barriers.

  • Nutrition Self-Efficacy: Your confidence in sticking to healthful foods despite barriers such as needing new routines, repeated attempts, rethinking your diet, lack of support, or needing a detailed plan
  • Physical Exercise Self-Efficacy: Your confidence in exercising despite barriers such as worries, depression, tension, tiredness, or being busy

Measures

Each subscale contains 5 items rated on a 4-point scale: 1 = Very Uncertain, 2 = Rather Uncertain, 3 = Rather Certain, 4 = Very Certain. Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy.

Example items:

  • Nutrition: “I can manage to stick to healthful foods …even if I need a long time to develop the necessary routines.”
  • Exercise: “I can manage to carry out my exercise intentions, …even when I have worries and problems.”

Your Scores

Health Self-Efficacy: Your Composite Scores
Password Nutrition SE Nutr(%) Exercise SE Exer(%)
$iorrZZ2425! 3.0 53% (mid) 1.8 11% (low)
'@Auliebear224757328el 2.8 42% (mid) 2.4 50% (mid)
5121lyster 2.0 3% (low) 3.0 84% (high)
78fArO50r 3.8 92% (high) 1.6 3% (low)
Arlingtonfootball(333) 3.0 53% (mid) 3.2 92% (high)
Benny2013 3.0 53% (mid) 2.4 50% (mid)
Binghamton1234 3.2 76% (high) 2.0 18% (low)
Birth2005 3.0 53% (mid) 2.0 18% (low)
Biscuit1227 3.0 53% (mid) 2.8 71% (high)
Bxqc3216 3.6 87% (high) 1.6 3% (low)
Damilola1976 3.8 92% (high) 2.8 71% (high)
December1912 2.2 16% (low) 2.0 18% (low)
Eski3754 2.8 42% (mid) 2.4 50% (mid)
Funkita732 2.0 3% (low) 2.0 18% (low)
Goodwin7292()! 3.0 53% (mid) 3.8 100% (high)
Health$402 3.4 84% (high) 2.8 71% (high)
Health1203 3.2 76% (high) 2.6 63% (mid)
Littlekitty1019 2.4 18% (low) 2.2 42% (mid)
LongSurvey1234 2.6 32% (low) 1.8 11% (low)
Power2 2.0 3% (low) 2.0 18% (low)
Rcool1229 1.4 0% (low) 2.0 18% (low)
Strawberryhamburger3 2.4 18% (low) 1.8 11% (low)
Tinawatsonqwe1 3.0 53% (mid) 2.0 18% (low)
VT1107lyn!Bing 2.4 18% (low) 2.4 50% (mid)
biotinISneeded2313! 3.0 53% (mid) 2.2 42% (mid)
brita6767 2.0 3% (low) 2.8 71% (high)
earth5567 4.0 97% (high) 3.6 97% (high)
ha1rcut 2.6 32% (low) 2.8 71% (high)
health0925 2.8 42% (mid) 2.2 42% (mid)
health1244 2.0 3% (low) 2.6 63% (mid)
health1248 2.6 32% (low) 2.6 63% (mid)
health4103 3.0 53% (mid) 2.0 18% (low)
jelly1909 3.2 76% (high) 3.0 84% (high)
kyunkyun3890 4.0 97% (high) 2.0 18% (low)
schre0000 3.6 87% (high) 3.4 95% (high)
surv1901 2.4 18% (low) 2.4 50% (mid)
vidyaravi1 NaN NA% (high) NaN NA% (high)
water6331 2.8 42% (mid) 3.0 84% (high)
water9813 2.6 32% (low) 1.6 3% (low)
witch2026 2.4 18% (low) 1.0 0% (low)

Class Distribution

Health Self-Efficacy: Nutrition and Exercise subscales side by side. Dashed lines = 33rd and 67th percentiles.

5.3 Health Information Avoidance — General

Constructs

The Health Information Avoidance Scale — General (items generated by Dr. Heather Orom, University at Buffalo) measures your tendency to seek or avoid potentially useful health information. Information avoidance reflects situations where people choose not to obtain available information, even when it is free and potentially useful.

Measures

The scale presents 7 realistic scenarios and asks whether you would want to know potentially threatening information. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale: 1 = Definitely Don’t Want to Know, 2 = Probably Don’t Want to Know, 3 = Probably Want to Know, 4 = Definitely Want to Know. Higher scores indicate less avoidance (i.e., more information-seeking).

Scale items (labels in parentheses match the item-level plot below):

  • “You bought a phone at what seemed like a reasonable, though not particularly low, price. A month has passed… Do you want to know the price you could have bought it for?” (Phone Price / Regret)
  • “There is a genetic test that tells you your physical attractiveness compared with others, and a test that tells you your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Do you want to know?” (Attractiveness / Alzheimer’s Risk)
  • “There is a test that measures levels of glyphosate (a common herbicide) in your body and tells you your cancer risk from exposure. Do you want to know?” (Glyphosate Exposure / Cancer)
  • “There is an app that tracks exactly how much time you spend distracted online each day. Do you want to know?” (Online Distraction / Time Wasted)
  • “There is a report that estimates the probability your job will be replaced by AI in the next 10 years. Do you want to know?” (AI Job Risk / Career Threat)
  • “There is a tool that analyzes your typical meals and gives you a daily nutrition score. Do you want to know?” (Nutrition Score / Diet Quality)
  • “There is a study measuring the long-term effects of social media use on brain health. Do you want to know your estimated impact?” (Social Media & Brain Health)

Your Scores

Health Information Avoidance (General): Your Composite Score
Password Info Seeking Score(%)
$iorrZZ2425! 3.71 68% (high)
'@Auliebear224757328el 3.43 42% (mid)
5121lyster 2.71 3% (low)
78fArO50r 3.43 42% (mid)
Arlingtonfootball(333) 3.57 61% (mid)
Benny2013 3.86 82% (high)
Binghamton1234 3.14 24% (low)
Birth2005 4.00 89% (high)
Biscuit1227 3.29 34% (mid)
Bxqc3216 3.43 42% (mid)
Damilola1976 4.00 89% (high)
December1912 2.86 5% (low)
Eski3754 3.14 24% (low)
Funkita732 2.86 5% (low)
Goodwin7292()! 4.00 89% (high)
Health$402 4.00 89% (high)
Health1203 3.29 34% (mid)
Littlekitty1019 3.43 42% (mid)
LongSurvey1234 3.14 24% (low)
Power2 3.71 68% (high)
Rcool1229 4.00 89% (high)
Strawberryhamburger3 3.00 13% (low)
Tinawatsonqwe1 3.00 13% (low)
VT1107lyn!Bing 3.14 24% (low)
biotinISneeded2313! 3.43 42% (mid)
brita6767 2.86 5% (low)
earth5567 3.86 82% (high)
ha1rcut 3.86 82% (high)
health0925 2.57 0% (low)
health1244 3.00 13% (low)
health1248 3.71 68% (high)
health4103 3.57 61% (mid)
jelly1909 3.57 61% (mid)
kyunkyun3890 3.71 68% (high)
schre0000 3.71 68% (high)
surv1901 3.00 13% (low)
vidyaravi1 NaN NA% (high)
water6331 3.43 42% (mid)
water9813 3.29 34% (mid)
witch2026 3.43 42% (mid)

Class Distribution

Health Information Avoidance (General): Higher scores = more information-seeking, lower scores = more avoidance. Dashed lines = 33rd and 67th percentiles.

Item-Level Analysis

Each of the 7 scenarios targets a different type of potentially threatening information. The bar chart below shows the average response to each item so you can see which types of information people are most and least willing to learn about.

Health Information Avoidance (General): Average willingness to know for each scenario. Higher values = more willing to seek information.

5.4 Health Information Avoidance — Depression

Constructs

The Health Information Avoidance Scale — Depression measures your tendency to avoid or seek information about a potential depression diagnosis. This scale assesses whether you would prefer to know or not know about your risk for major depression, reflecting the psychological tension between the desire for useful health information and the discomfort of receiving threatening news.

Measures

The scale contains 8 items rated on a 7-point scale: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Slightly Disagree, 4 = Neutral, 5 = Slightly Agree, 6 = Agree, 7 = Strongly Agree. Items 3, 5, 7, and 8 are reverse-scored so that higher composite scores indicate more avoidance.

Example item:

  • “I would rather not know my risk for major depression.”

Your Scores

Health Information Avoidance (Depression): Your Composite Score
Password Depression Avoidance Score(%)
$iorrZZ2425! 1.50 13% (low)
'@Auliebear224757328el 2.12 29% (low)
5121lyster 2.38 42% (mid)
78fArO50r 6.25 97% (high)
Arlingtonfootball(333) 2.12 29% (low)
Benny2013 1.75 21% (low)
Binghamton1234 3.12 68% (high)
Birth2005 2.12 29% (low)
Biscuit1227 3.75 79% (high)
Bxqc3216 1.62 16% (low)
Damilola1976 2.50 53% (mid)
December1912 2.38 42% (mid)
Eski3754 1.62 16% (low)
Funkita732 2.38 42% (mid)
Goodwin7292()! 3.50 76% (high)
Health$402 6.62 100% (high)
Health1203 1.75 21% (low)
Littlekitty1019 2.62 61% (mid)
LongSurvey1234 1.38 8% (low)
Power2 1.00 0% (low)
Rcool1229 1.00 0% (low)
Strawberryhamburger3 2.38 42% (mid)
Tinawatsonqwe1 4.00 84% (high)
VT1107lyn!Bing 2.50 53% (mid)
biotinISneeded2313! 1.38 8% (low)
brita6767 4.00 84% (high)
earth5567 1.12 5% (low)
ha1rcut 2.12 29% (low)
health0925 3.75 79% (high)
health1244 4.00 84% (high)
health1248 2.88 63% (mid)
health4103 4.00 84% (high)
jelly1909 3.25 71% (high)
kyunkyun3890 1.75 21% (low)
schre0000 4.75 95% (high)
surv1901 3.00 66% (mid)
vidyaravi1 NaN NA% (high)
water6331 2.50 53% (mid)
water9813 3.38 74% (high)
witch2026 2.12 29% (low)

Class Distribution

Health Information Avoidance (Depression): Higher scores = more avoidance of depression-related information. Dashed lines = 33rd and 67th percentiles.

Chapter Summary: All Psychological Beliefs Measures

Chapter Summary: Eight subscales across five psychological beliefs measures.

References

Paulhus, D. L., & Carey, J. M. (2011). The FAD–Plus: Measuring lay beliefs regarding free will and related constructs. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93(1), 96–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2011.536216

Schwarzer, R., & Renner, B. (2000). Social-cognitive predictors of health behavior: Action self-efficacy and coping self-efficacy. Health Psychology, 19(5), 487–495. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.19.5.487