Behavioural Sciences
Introduction
Behavioural Sciences
(The science of behavior)
Sciences concerned with the study,
observation and explanation of human
behavior either in single individuals or
in groups
Behavioral sciences also concerned with
the study of individual differences in
relationship to patient’s behavior
Behavioural Sciences
Behavioural sciences encompass all the
disciplines that explore the activities of
and interactions among organisms in the
natural world.
Behavioural Sciences
It involves the systematic analysis and
investigation of human and animal
behaviour through controlled and
naturalistic experimental observations
and rigorous formulations.
Spectrum of Behavioural Sciences
Psychology
The study of the mind, occurring partly via
the study of behavior. The study of the
nature, functions and phenomena of human
beings
Spectrum of Behavioural Sciences
Sociology
The scientific study of society. The study of
the development, nature and laws of
human society.
Sociology also focuses on social
stratification, social class, social mobility,
religion, law, and deviance.
Spectrum of Behavioural Sciences
Anthropology:
The study of the origins, history, mechanisms
and constitution of human cultures
Ethology
The study of behaviour of non-human species
in the natural setting
Spectrum of Behavioural Sciences
Echology
Deals with the relations of human beings
to their environment and the
quantification of this relationship
Epidemiology
The study of illness in defined population
Objectives of Behavioral Science
Teaching:
1. A focus on the science of behaviour
2. Understanding normal human
behaviour
3. A preparation for clinical psychiatry
Topic domains for the behaviour
science in medical teaching:
1. Mind body interaction
2. Patient behaviour
3. Physician role and behaviour
4. Physician patient interaction
5. Social and cultural issues in health care
6. Health policy and economics
Human Behaviour
Behaviour refers to the actions or reactions of
an object or organism, usually in relation to the
environment.
Human behaviour is the collection of
behaviors exhibited by human beings
Human Behaviour
Behaviours can be:
Conscious or unconscious,
Overt or covert,
Voluntary or involuntary
Human Behaviour
• The behavior of people falls within a
range:
Common
Unusual
Acceptable
Outside acceptability
Human Behaviour
The acceptability of behaviour is
evaluated relative to social and
moral norms and regulated by
various means of social control.
Social behaviour is behavior
specifically directed at other
people.
Categories of Human Behaviour
Four categories of human behaviour
1. Behavior Detectability:
Behaviour we can detect with our
senses (e.g, see or hear)
Behaviour that can not be detected by
our senses (e.g., thinking)
Human Behaviour
2. Behaviour Purposive viz. goal-driven
(involves action).
3. Behaviour involving performance (or
skilled behavior).
Behavior that demonstrates skills of
various kinds from work to sports.
Human Behaviour
4. Category of instinctual behaviour,
having to do with the anatomical or
physiological nature of the organism.
Behavior in this category is determined
by the need or desire to avoid pain and
gain pleasure.
Human Behaviour
Human behavior is influenced by:
Culture
Attitudes
Emotions
Values
Human Behaviour
Ethics
Authority
Persuasion
Coercion
Genetics
Relevance of Behavioural Sciences to Health
& Medicine
Relevance is demonstrated in the:
Aetiology of illness
Presentation of illnesses
Delivery of health care
Aspects of social and psychological
treatment
Relevance of Behavioural Sciences to
Medicine
Behavioural and social factors are
important in planning for health care
with assessment and treatment of both
physical and psychiatric disorder
Relevance of Behavioural Sciences
to Medicine
Cultural factors play a role in the
behaviour of the patient and treatment
Psychological tests help in the
psychiatric diagnosis
Methods of Studying Human
Behaviour
Observation
Questionnaires
Psychometric Tests
PsychophysiologicalTechniques
Methods of Studying Human
Behaviour
Structured Interviews
Check lists
Rating scales
Self-rating Scales
Data Sources
Official Reports
Institution Reports
National and local data
Determinants of Behaviour
1. Biological determinants
Genetic Influences
Growth and developmental
Influences
Biochemical Influences
Psycho physiological parameters
Determinants of Behaviour
2. Learning (conditioning)
3. Socio-cultural factors
4. Psychosocial factors
Biological Determinants of Human
Behaviour
Behaviour is biologically determined
The complexity of the behavior of an
organism is related to the complexity of
its nervous system.
Biological Determinants of Human
Behaviour
Generally, organisms with complex
nervous systems have a greater capacity
to learn new responses and thus adjust
their behavior.
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