Alternative Theories of Health Policy Attitudes and Protective Behaviors: Self Interest, Sociotropy, and Socialization

Abstract

Three extensively documented theories of policy attitudes and political behaviors found in the political science literature—self interest, sociotropy, and socialization — are introduced into the health domain. Each of these theories brings an alternative view to the study of the predispositions underlying both health policy attitudes and health protective behaviors. On a sample from a limited population, it is found that health policy attitudes are predicted best by sociotropy. In contrast, "effortful" health protective behaviors are predicted best by self interest, whereas more "automatic" behaviors are predicted best by socialization. Since these trends reconcile cleanly with the related political science research, it is argued that the three models cumulatively show considerable promise as a predictive framework for both classes of phenomena. The implications that these trends hold for those with applied interests as well as more basic research interests in health policy attitudes and protective behaviors are discussed.