Towson University Behavior Change Relationship Lifestyle Analyses Paper

BEHAVIOR CHANGE-RELATIONSHIP LIFESTYLE ANALYSES

Directions:  After reading the information in Chapter 10, watching the Brene Brown Ted Talk, and analyzing the qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships from the One Love Foundation, choose one behavior or quality that that you feel you could improve upon in your personal relationships (friend or romantic relationship).  Using the following outline, write an analysis of your behavior and a plan for making a change.  Choose a behavior that is important to you. To fully develop this paper takes 4-5 pages.  

1.  INTRODUCTION: Clearly identify the behavior or quality you would like to improve upon in your personal relationships.  Make sure the behavior you choose is within your control to change; you cannot change others.  Describe very completely your habits and patterns related to this behavior/quality and how they differ or conform to your social group expectations. E.g., what you do, with whom do you behave this way, how long this has this been an issue, and any other pertinent information that describes your behavior. Finally, explain why changing this behavior is important to you.  (Core Curriculum Learning Goal 1)

2.  CONSEQUENCES: What are the results of your behavior?  What are the challenges and opportunities presented by this behavior? What happens to you and others as a result of your behavior?  Make sure you fully explain the positive and negative and the intended and unintended consequences of your behavior.  (Core Curriculum Learning Goal 4)

3.  AFFECT:   How do you feel about your beliefs, behavior and the results?  How do others view your behavior?  You probably have positive and negative feelings about these. (Core Curriculum Learning Goal 2, 5)

4.  FORCE FIELD (clearly list as a), b), c)): 

Explain what it means to vulnerable and how the concept of vulnerability relates to true, meaningful, loving relationships.  What personal barriers prevent you from being vulnerable in your relationship? 

Identify the social factors and personal beliefs and assumptions that keep you in this lifestyle.  What keeps you behaving as you do?  What social factors are influencing you and helping you maintain this behavior?   

Identify the social factors and personal beliefs that can take you away from this way of behaving.  (Force field 1 & 2 are often related. E.g., If jealousy is making it difficult for you to trust your partner, then dealing with jealousy will take you away from this behavior. (Core Curriculum Learning Goal 1,2,5)

5.  ACTION ALTERNATIVES: 

List a minimum of three measurable action steps that can free you from this lifestyle (social and/or personal).  

Next to each action step, describe your plan for making this change.  Be very detailed and specific about how you plan to move toward your goal. Make sure each item you list is truly an actionable behavior.  This should be the strongest section of your paper.

(Core Curriculum Learning Goal 2,3)

6. FEASIBILITY:   Explain why your plan is:  

• manageable 
• measurable 
• why you are in control of the steps   

why you believe this plan will work. 

(Core Curriculum Learning Goal 5)

7.  RESOURCES: Identify the resources, human and material, that you will use to implement your plan for change.

• 8.  TIMELINE:  List the steps you will take in the first two weeks of implementation.  List the date you plan to begin the change.
• 9.  EVALUATION: How will you measure success?  How will you know when you have achieved your goal? (Core Curriculum Learning Goal 5)

10.  REVISIONS:  Choose one or two steps for change that you think may be difficult for  you to accomplish and explain your choice and ideas to overcome the barriers.