Human behavior

Human behavior is one of the most prominent aspects that psychology studies, investigates and treats. This term refers to the way in which people behave in certain situations, people or events, but always taking into account the influence that exists in relation to social or environmental factors.

Different types of psychology take this term into account when developing solutions to problems that human behavior can pose. In addition, the study of this allows to anticipate behaviors and to know in detail the way in which the human being acts in the face of certain events.

Behavior has also been the object of study with regard to the evolution of the child to the stage of old age. Norms, education and society are a fundamental part in the development of this.

What factors are involved in human behavior?

The most prominent factors are the following:

• Biological factors: They are those elements related to the genetic inheritance and the biology of the human being that intervene in their behavior.
• Environmental factors: Although when we talk about human behavior we think in the first instance about behavior between people, we must also take these types of factors into account. The influence of the surrounding environment, noise, temperature or the environment, also influence behavior.
• Sociocultural factors: These types of factors are fundamental when we talk about human behavior. Beliefs, the type of society in which an individual finds himself, family, friends and institutions, are elements that have a great impact and influence on human behavior.

Why is the study of human behavior important?

Psychology seeks to understand the reasons that lead an individual to behave differently from another. Research on human behavior is important for the following factors:

• Understand the way in which human beings act under certain circumstances.
• Understand the functioning of the human mind in relation to behavior.
• Assess the social, cultural and biological aspects that lead a person to perform specific acts.
• Determine the problems that exist in relation to human behavior and seek effective solutions to achieve greater well-being for it.
• Know the role of institutions and the social influence that exists in the human being to carry out certain behaviors.

All of this is very useful to anticipate, assess and understand the types of human behavior that exist.

Example of human behavior

Human behavior is the way in which an individual proceeds in a situation or a person. For example, greeting a family member would be a friendly behavior, since you both know each other and there is a cordial relationship.

A child’s behavior can vary from a familiar environment to a less familiar one. For example, in the family he can adopt behaviors with greater confidence among the members that make it up and in school he can have a greater emotional distance with respect to his teachers and peers. We observe in this case the influence of the context and the social factor.

Another element that intervenes in behavior is the area in which an individual has developed. For example, someone who has lived during their childhood in a hostile environment and with patterns based on violence, may develop this pattern in the future.

Therefore, a multitude of aspects intervene in human behavior that will be elementary in its development.