Behaviors are the structured responses and individualized responses that humans, animals, systems or machines take in response to their environment and/or themselves. Behaviors can be divided into two main categories: cognitive and emotional. Cognitive behavior is the way humans behave and react to their environment. Emotional behavior is how humans and animals behave and react to their environments.
Behaviors can be categorized on four levels: cognitive, affective, social and communicative. Behavior is normally a learned skill that develops over time through observation and repetition. Most behaviors can also be triggered by personal experience or environmental conditions.
Some behaviors are considered typical for a given situation while others are considered inappropriate or in inappropriate circumstances. Adopting a social learning theory, researchers have shown that these behavioral patterns are generally learned in social interactions with other people. Social learning theory states that people learn most efficiently and quickly from other people in their daily interactions with them. It therefore follows that if people can learn how to behave appropriately in social settings then they can also learn how to behave appropriately in individual social settings.
Behaviors can also be described in terms of their relation to others. Behaviors are not simply what people do but also how they do it. This means that there is a distinct difference between what is socially acceptable and what would be considered unacceptable in a given situation. The two are not always similar.
The most frequent types of social behaviors are reciprocity, compliance, communal, communicative and assertive. Reciprocity is described as behaving back to someone whom you owed or that you owed in the past. Conformity is required when you are following a procedure or custom that was established in the past. Communicative behavior is used to communicate with other individuals or with the environment. Lastly, assertive behavior is used to assert a point, an opinion or a claim.
Behaviors can be considered to be habits if they are formed over a period of time and consistently. Habits can be activated by certain events in your environment. For example, if a child witnesses violence in the home, then they may become more aggressive toward other children in the future. When a person continually says "no", "stop" or "no way" to something, then they are demonstrating their inability to abide by the request of the requestor. These requests are then translated into actions of resistance or defense.
It is easy to mistake a simple lack of communication for problematic behavior. Communication skills can be taught and reinforced. Behavior problems can be handled through therapy and through various types of interventions where the behavior is noticed, analyzed, and then dealt with in a productive way. Many people who suffer from problems related to unwanted sexual behavior or unwanted verbal or physical behavior will often benefit from working with a sex therapist or a sex coach. There are a variety of programs available through schools, hospitals, government agencies and private companies.
Most people are capable of changing their Behaviors. Habits can be changed by using positive reinforcement and peer pressure. It takes effort and perseverance, but it can be done. Many people are motivated to change their Behaviors by realizing that they have control over their ability to affect change and that their behaviors can be changed. In this way, they can begin to take control over their lives.
Some people have a hard time changing their Behaviors. This could be a result of a history of abuse. If there is consistent violence in the home or in the environment that impacts upon your feelings and self-image, it could inhibit you from changing your behavior. You may have been raised to think that such behaviors are unacceptable. If you grew up in a household where it was expected that your father or mother would dominate your needs and desires, it may be very difficult to create an identity separate from such a controlling environment.
Other people have a hard time changing their Behaviors because they are afraid that others will judge them. They fear that they will fail at becoming successful. For them, changing their behavior would seem to be an admission of failure. In situations like this, it is important to remind yourself why you are trying to change your behavior and what your goals are. A new strategy could be necessary.
Changing one's Behaviors can be challenging, but when you understand why you do what you do and find a strategy for success, you have the power to become stronger and more powerful. In addition, by changing your behaviors you can make yourself feel better about who you are and the person that you are becoming. When you have a strategy for success, you are on your way.
