Introduction to Human Behavior

Behavior

• Behavior is any response, exhibited by a human or animal, to internal or external stimuli
• People constantly engage in behavioral actions
• Behavior is defined by Stimulus → Organism → Response

Examples of Behavior

• Examples of behavior include walking, running, sitting and speaking
• Other examples of behavior include laughing, crying, blushing, and feeling happy

Characteristics of Behavior

• Behaviors are responses to internal or external stimuli
• Responses or behaviours are observable, recordable and measurable
• Human behavior is purposeful, motivated, and goal-directed

Behavioral Sciences

• Behavioral Sciences studies the cause-and-effect relationships of human behavior, specifically the interactions between stimulus, organism, and response
• Behavioral Sciences studies the factors that influence the formation of behavior, the consequences resulting from these factors, and the relationship and interaction between cause and effect

Behavioral Sciences as a Multidisciplinary Field

• The study of behavioral sciences is a multidisciplinary field of science
• Behavioral Sciences uses the principles, rules, and methods of many disciplines and sciences
• Behavioral science aims to understand, examine, and research human behavior in accordance with the principles and methods of fields such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology

Key Sciences in Behavioral Science

• Main sciences include psychology, sociology, and anthropology
• Supporting sciences include economics, political science, law, history, medicine, biology, and neuroscience

Applications of Behavioral Sciences

• Behavioral Sciences has applications in education, health, sports and the military
• Other applications include industrial and organizational psychology, social work, community services, law, justice and marketing and behavioral economics

Psychology

• Psychology is the systematic and scientific study of behaviors and mental processes
• Mental processes include thinking, daydreaming, analyzing, and dreaming
• Psychology aims to describe, explain, predict and control human behavior and mental processes

Topics of Study in Psychology

• Psychology studies the formation and causes of behavior
• It includes study of mental and psychological processes
• Mental and psychological processes include perception, consciousness, personality, intelligence, and attention
• These processes also include motivation, memory, thinking, learning, attitudes, social behavior, values, stress, and evaluation

Approaches within Psychology

• Psychology addresses questions through biological, cognitive, and behavioral approaches
• It can also use psychoanalytic, humanistic and cross-cultural approaches

Historical Approaches in Psychology

• Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle laid the foundations of psychology in Ancient Greece
• Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879
• William James wrote the book Principles of Psychology in 1890

Psychologists

• A psychologist is a person who has completed 4-5 years of postgraduate education and holds a doctoral degree
• In some countries, individuals with a master’s degree are allowed to obtain the title of psychologist

Psychologists vs. Psychiatrists

• Clinical psychologists specialize in clinical subfields, obtain a doctoral degree, and complete a one-year internship to gain experience in diagnosing and treating abnormal behaviors
• Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have clinical training to diagnose the possible physical and neurological causes of abnormal behaviors and treat them using medication
• Psychologists often work in psychology or psychiatry clinics, mental health centers, or rehabilitation departments
• Psychologists do not have the authority to perform medical interventions

Basic Fields of Psychology

• Basic areas include clinical, industrial and organizational, developmental, cognitive and social psychology
• Further fields include neuropsychology, educational, health, forensic and experimental psychology and research methods

Research Methods in Psychology

• Research methods in psychology include case studies and field studies
• Further methods include experimental research, observation, and clinical interviews
• Psychology researchers use surveys, scales, tests, existing statistics, secondary analysis plus data analysis and interpretation of results

Sociology

• "Science of society" which studies societies, social structures, social events, social change, and group dynamics.
• Studies types of societies, causes, consequences of social phenomena, events, society, human interaction, bureaucracy, power, conflict, relationships between groups, migration, organizational culture, communication, and more

Anthropology

• "Science of humanity" that studies the cultures and ethnic characteristics of people living in past and present communities.
• Examines human language, culture, societies, biological and material remains, civilizations, traditions, customs, clothing and lifestyles, values, belief systems, and more.

Key Topics and Concepts

• Core areas include learning, memory, motivation and emotion
• Other concepts include intelligence, personality, health and stress
• Further concepts are coping strategies, psychological disorders and social influence