What is Behavior?

George Alvarez 30-08-2023
George Alvarez

O behavior is called all the reactions that living things have in relation to their environment.

Many studies in ethology, psychology and social sciences agree that the behavior of a living being is influenced by everything that happens in the environment. Behavior is about the circumstances experienced in a given time and space. So, read our post! In it you will learn about:

  • behavior in psychology;
  • the different types of behavior;
  • behavior classes;
  • and much more! Check it out.

In psychology

In psychology, a difference is made between behavior and conduct. For, although all living beings have some kind of mode of action, these do not imply a cognitive process.

The behavior can be due, for example, to an organic activity, so it does not involve a cognitive process.

Observable reactions

In behavioral studies, both observable and unobservable reactions are taken into consideration, since important differences are likely to be noticed between the two situations.

These differences are due to the fact that many organic and psychological aspects influence the way people act; these aspects are, for example, elements of a cultural, social, family, and school nature, among others.

See_also: Agape: meaning of Love in Greek

Behaviors

Therefore, living beings have different types of behavior, good or bad, depending on where they are and whether or not they are in the eyes of others. For example, children behave differently at school and at home. This is due to the stimuli to act and speak in each space.

Just as with adults, people act differently when they are in the comfort of their own home compared to when they are at a friend's home. These behaviors are not cognitive, because the internal, non-visible process is part of the hidden or "mental" prior to the visible behavior.

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The way a manager behaves in his workplace is different from when he is with his loved ones or friends. Thus, people have different ways of acting in private spaces and in public spaces where there is more observation and criticism.

Groups, whether they are people or animals and other living beings, also exhibit a series of behaviors that define them and make them different from other groups. Therefore, it is important to take all behaviors into consideration, because from all of them we get important information regarding a personal being or a group.

The behavior must be understood as a whole, the reaction of the environment or the space cannot be analyzed separately. Since both biological factors and external factors are of interest.

Behavior and Conduct

Behavior is about the reactions that a living being has according to the environment or space it is in. It can be influenced by both organic aspects and the elements around it. For this reason, behavior occurs in social life, where there is an affective disposition prior to acting.

In turn, it is composed of a series of cognitive reactions that vary according to the knowledge or previous experiences one has. The most important form of behavior is reflexes, generated for survival.

For example, a child's interaction in a space implies a way of acting, and this way of acting is when it creates many repetitive patterns.

See_also: Structuralism in Psychology: authors and concepts

According to certain theories of social psychology, there are four different types of behavior

Dominant

Typical of people who often take the initiative, who know what they want and where they want to go. They take active, sometimes even aggressive roles, oriented more towards results and the "what" than the "how".

Influential

It focuses on interpersonal relationships, so the concepts of empathy, openness, and influence are central. Influencers build bonds and can demonstrate great leadership skills, so they tend to surround themselves with people and be very "popular."

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Stable

A quiet, soft-spoken type who places great importance on self-assurance, and therefore tends to take a passive role in most situations. They can appear shy, insecure, and focus much more on the "how" than the "what".

Read Also: Agrura: what it is, meaning and examples

Complacent

You are a perfectionist, with an enormous capacity for contemplating details, typical of observant, methodical and analytical people. And you have the possibility that others may think you are "cold" , since most of the time you don't follow through on your inner or emotional life.

Animal Behavior

Ethology is the discipline that studies the behavior of animals. It is a branch of biology and experimental psychology, which tries to understand the behavioral changes of living beings in their habitats or in different environments.

It focuses in particular on concepts such as instinct, behavior, social life, mating, etc. This approach may or may not include human beings, considered for these purposes as an animal species.

Problems that condition behavior

Just by observing different people we can confirm that they have different ways of acting when faced with the same situation. For example, because someone's behavior when faced with a certain stimulus will affect the education that this person received in the early years of life.

But so can the various social conventions that exist, which in some way anticipate how society expects us to behave in certain situations. So you have different ways of behaving conditioned by the circumstances in question.

The conscious way of acting is done after a process of reasoning. Like, for example, we greet the math teacher when we meet him in the street.

Classes

On the other hand, unconscious behavior, unlike the previous one, occurs in an automatic way. That is, the person doesn't stop to think or reflect about the way he or she acts. For example, we pick up our finger when we tap it on the bed leg.

Meanwhile, private behavior occurs, in particular, in the personal sphere, in the intimacy of the home or in solitude. And then, in a public place we act differently. This is because we develop it in front of other people or in public spaces where we live with society.

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Final considerations

It is always very important to know the behavior of a person with whom you want to establish a stable bond in life. So as not to have unpleasant surprises, of course.

If a person behaves and thinks the same way as we do, then we will have a good harmony. On the other hand if this doesn't happen it will be very difficult to continue the relationship, even if you have love and respect.

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Get to know the Clinical Psychoanalysis Course and get ready to discover new horizons that will change your life! You will have access to a lot of content online and with great teachers. So, be a professional in this exceptional area and dive into behavior human!

George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.