1 THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

Chapter 2
CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR

At the end of this chapter the student should be able to:

• Define Human Behavior

• Understand the Factors that affect Human
Behavior
• Gain knowledge about the motivation of
Human Behavior

Human Behavior Defined

Human Behavior refers to a voluntary or involuntary attitude of a person to adapt
to fit society’s idea of right and wrong.
Also, Human Behavior refers to the full range of physical and emotional
behaviors that humans engage in; biologically, socially, intellectually, etc. and are
influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport,
persuasion, coercion and/or genetics. This type of behavior is scientifically viewed as
being without specific meaning, unlike social behavior that is influenced by the
expectations of others.

Viewpoints in the Study of Human Behavior

 Neurological
Emphasizes human actions in relation to events taking place inside the
body, especially the brain and the nervous system.
 Behavioral
Focuses on the external activities that can be observed and measured.
 Cognitive
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Concerned with how the brain processes and transforms information in various
ways.
 Psychoanalytical
Emphasizes unconscious motives stemming from repressed sexual and
aggressive impulses in childhood.
 Humanistic
Focuses on the subject’s experiences, freedom of choice and motivation
towards self-actualization.

Factors that Affect Human Behavior

• Heredity
It is determined by genes. Genes are segments of cell structures called
chromosomes by which parents pass on traits to their offspring.
• Environment
Consists of the conditions and factors that surround and influence an
individual.
• Learning
The process by which behavior changes as a result of experience or
practice.

Motivation of Human Behavior

1. The Needs Theory of Human Motivation
This theory states that throughout life; desires, wishes and drives that are
collectively called needs, motivate every person. When not fulfilled, these needs
place the individual under stress and in order to relieve the tensions created, one
has to strive for appropriate satisfactions.
These needs are arranged according to its hierarchy, to wit:
• Physiological needs: hunger, thirst, and air, et.
• Safety needs: the need for freedom from threat and danger.
• The sense of belonging and love needs: the need for affiliation, belongingness
and acceptance.
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• Esteem needs: the need for achievements, strength, competence, reputation

and status or prestige.
• The need for self-actualization: the need for self-fulfillment to realize
potentialities to become what one is capable of becoming.
2. The Psychodynamics of Human Motivation
Psychodynamics literally means motivation to action, define human
behavior in terms of the personality of the inner self. It is also referring to the
concept of subjective life and inner forces within, called “mental personality.” It
postulates that the mind has three levels by which its psychic forces operate,
namely: The Id, Ego, and Super Ego.

Causes and Conflicts in Human Behavior

1. Physical causes
Refers to natural causes, like typhoon, and earthquake, fire, flood, and
storm.
2. Social conflicts
Reflections or rules in the home, school and community.
3. Economic conflicts
Results from one’s inability to acquire material things because of poverty
or other financial obligations.

Two Basic Types of Human Behavior

1) Inherited Behavior
Concept: Behavioral response or reflex exhibited by people due to their genetic
endowment or the process of natural selection.
Example: Breathing, ingesting food, avoiding waste, mating and defending one’s
self.
2) Learned Behavior
Concept: Involves cognitive adaptation that enhances the human being’s ability
to cope with changes in the environment in ways to improve the changes for
service
Example: communication, logical problem-solving techniques, job, and skills et.
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Other Types of Behavior

Types Behavior
 Habitual  Moto, emotional, language
 Instinctive  Unlearned behavior
 Symbolic  Substitute behavior
 Complex  Two or more habitual behaviors
occur in one situation

Personality Dimensions that Affect Human Behavior

Types Characteristics Effect
 Extraversion  Frequently seeks  Get them in
stimulation, trouble, thus it
excitement and has the greatest
thrills role in crime and
delinquency
 Neuroticism  Intensely react to  Enhance habits
stress, generally and influences
moody, touchy, the individual to
sensitive to behave anti-
slights and socially.
anxious or
nervous.
 Psychotism  Cold cruelty,  Impulse
social aggressive
insensibility, individual without
disregard for appreciable
danger, conscience.
troublesome
behavior, dislike
of others,
attraction towards
the unusual.

HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND CRISIS

MANAGEMENT
Rdolfo V. Castillo Jr.

Atty. Ramil G. Gabao