By integrating theories and research on automatic behaviour with the more traditional reasoned action approach, the book provides a new answer to the age-old puzzle of health research; why people engage in behaviour which they know will damage their health. The book also:

• Discusses determinants of health behaviour, based on the most recent research on social cognition
• Includes a review of research on the health impact of health behaviour and stress
• Considers how behaviour is influenced by environmental factors outside individual awareness
• Argues for an integrative approach that combines psychological, economic and environmental interventions in order to reduce the potential risk to health arising from behaviour or stressful events.