Chapter 3. Critical Thinking Exercise

3.1 Section Title

Paula is a 49-year-old Canadian woman who has smoked cigarettes since she was in high school. She admits to having done her fair share of partying in her younger years and even using cocaine for a period of time in her twenties. Upon graduating from high school, she worked a number of jobs before finding her passion—working with animals. She met her husband of 20 years, a veterinarian, at her job at the veterinary clinic he owned with a business partner. She and her husband recently moved to the United States, where he got a job as a veterinarian in the suburbs. They bought a house with a designated space to breed exotic cats and she works a full-time job as a groomer in the area. In addition, she is an animal trainer, and several of her dogs have won awards. She and her husband have no children, although she thinks of her animals as her “kids.”

Paula is not health-conscious and has never been very athletic. Like many women, she is conscious of her appearance and has put on a few pounds over the past couple of years. She figures this happens to most people as they approach 50 and plans to diet at some point in the near future. For the most part, she manages to keep her weight under control because she is on her feet all day at work and plays with the dogs out in their yard most evenings. She does not exercise and has no plans to start an exercise regimen. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day also helps her avoid snacking.

Paula’s parents were both smokers and sadly, both were killed in a car accident when she was in her late twenties. Her husband also smokes, although he only smokes an occasional cigarette. There have always been people at work who smoke, making it hard to avoid during breaks or during the slower times of the day.

Paula’s more health-conscious neighbor recently invited her to a party with several other women, none of whom smoke. When she went out on the porch to have a cigarette, she came back in acting somewhat defensive, as though she needed to justify her smoking habit. When one of them asked Paula if she ever tried to quit or was planning to quit in the future, she quickly replied, “You have to die of something.” She went on to say that she really enjoys smoking and would rather live life without constantly depriving herself.

Six months after the party and one month before Paula’s fiftieth birthday, she was at a turning point. She had been feeling sick and had experienced chest pains that grew unbearably painful. When she finally went to the doctor, she learned that she needs an operation on her heart. Her husband was really worried that her condition could be fatal. He immediately quit smoking and is hoping she will, too.

Apply the behavior change models to answer the questions about Paula’s health-related behaviors. There is, of course, no single correct answer to each question. Each of the theories discussed in the text offers an important insight into Paula’s risky behaviors.