OBJECTIVES

At the end of presentation, the students will be

able to:
a. determine the life and works of Dorothy
Johnson.
b. understanding the Behavioral System Model.
c. Definitions and assumptions of Johnsons
Behavioral System Model in relation to
Nursing's Metaparadigm.
d. Application of the theory in nursing.
e. Acceptance of theory in the nursing
community.
f.
know the points of critique and weakness.

INTRODUCING THE
THEORIST
Dorothy Johnson was born on August 21, 1919, in

Savannah, Georgia.
She received her(A.A) associate of arts degree
from Armstrong Junior College in 1938 .
Her (BSN) bachelor of science in nursing degree
from Vanderbilt University in 1942.
She practiced briefly as a staff nurse at the
Chatham-savannah Health Council .
she received her (MPH) master of public health
from Harvard University in 1948.

:-Cont
She began her academic career at Vanderbilt

University School of Nursing

A call from Lulu Hassenpplug, dean of the
School of Nursing enticed her to go to the
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
in 1949.
She served there as an assistant, associate,
and professor of pediatric nursing until her
retirement in 1978

:-Cont
In 1955 and 1956 she was a pediatric

nursing adviser
at the Christian medical collage school of
nursing in
.Vellare, South India
She worked with California Nurses
Association, National League for Nursing and
American Nurses Association to examine the
role of the clinical nurse specialist, the scope
of nursing practice.
Dorothy Johnsons body of published work

:-Cont
Ms. Johnson received many awards, including
the
Founders Medal from Vanderbilt University
(1942)
Award from california nurses association and
vanderbilt university school of nursing .
,Dorothy Johnson
passed away in February 1999

Theoretical recourses
Johnson has noted that her theory evolved from

philosophical ideas, theory and research, clinical

background, and many years of thought,
discussions, and writing .
From Florence Nightingale came the belief that
nursings concern is a focus on the person rather
than the disease.
From systems theory were all sources for her
model.
Johnsons background as a pediatric nurse is also
evident in the development of her model.

Major
concepts

BEHAVIOR:IS the out put of intra organismic

structures &process as they are

coordinated and articulated by and
responsive to changes in sensory
stimulation.

System
From Rapport's definition of system,

Johnson stated(A system is a whole that

functions as a whole by virtue of the
interdependence of its parts.)
she accepted with chin's statement that
it,s organization, interaction,
interdependency and integration of the
parts & elements .

BEHAVOURAL SYSTEM
Behavioral system encompasses the

patterned ,repetitive & purposeful ways of

behaving.
These ways of behaving form an organized &
integrated functional unit that determines and
limits the interaction between the person and
his or her environment, and establishes the
relationship of the person to the objects,
events and situations within his or her
environment.

subsystems
Is a mini system with its own particular goal

&function that can be maintained as long as its

relationship to the other subsystems or the
environment is not disturbed.
Which are open-linked & interrelated.
Motivational drives direct the activities of these
subsystems ,which are continually changing
through maturation, experience & learning .
And controlled by biological, psychological &
sociological factors

attachment-affiliative-1
subsystem
Is probably the most critical, because it forms

the basis for all social organization.

It provided survival &security.
Its consequences are social inclusion,
intimacy, formation & maintenance of a
strong social bond.

dependancy-2
subsystem
-promotes helping behavior calls for

nurturing response .
Developmentally dependency
behavior evolves from almost total
dependence on others to greater
degree of dependence on self .

Ingestive sub-system
Should not seen as input &out put

mechanisms of the system, it has to

do with(when, how, what, how much&
under what conditions we eat).
It serve the board function of
appetitive satisfaction. which
associated with psychological, social
&biological consideration.

Eliminative sub-system
-it means when, how & under which
condition we eliminate .
As ingestion system social ,
psychological &biological aspect
influencing this subsystem.

Sexual subsystem
Has a double functions:1- procreation.
2- gratification.
This response system begins with the

development of gender role identity.

Achievement

Aggressive protective
subsystem
Its function is protection &

preservation. And this opposed

thinking of that aggressive behavior
is not only learned ,but also has
intend to harm others.

equilibrium
Is a key concept in nursings specific

goal. define as:A stabilized but more or less transitory,

resting state in which the individual is in
harmony with him self & his
environment.
It is not synonymous with state of
health ,it may be found either in health
or illness.

TENSION
DEFINE AS :State of being stretched or strained

and can be viewed as an end-product

of a disturbance in equilibrium.
It can be constructive in adaptive
change or destructive in inefficient
use of energy.

STRESSOR
Define as :Internal or external stimuli that produce
tension & result in a degree of instability
Stimuli may be positive or negative,
endogenous or exogenous in origin.
And may play upon one or more of our
open linked system (physiological,
personality and meaningful small group(family) and larger social system.

Major assumptions

Nursing
an external regulatory

force which acts to

preserve the
organization and
integration of the
patients behavior at
an optimal level when
physical, psychological
and social threatened.

An art and science, it

supplies external
assistance both before
and during balance
disturbance and
therefore require
knowledge of order
,disorder, and control.

clien
=Tension =
t
NURSE

stressor
EQUILIPRIUM

Person
As a behavior system with patterned, repetitive ,

and purposeful ways of behaving that link the

person to environment.
An individual's specific response patterns, form an
organized and integrated whole.
A person is a system of interdependent parts that
require some regularity and adjustment to
maintaining a balance.

health
An elusive, dynamic state

influenced by biological,
psychological, and social
factors.
A desired value of health
professionals and focused on
a person rather than a
disease.
Reflected by the
organization, interaction,
interdependence, and
integration of the subsystems
of behavior system.

Environment
Consists of all factors that

not part of the individual's

behavioral system, but
influence the system.
The individual links to and
interact with the
environment.
The behavior system
attempt to maintain
equilibrium in response to
environmental factors by
adjusting and adapting to the
forces that impinging on it.

Theoretical assertion
JBS addressed that patient is a behavior system

with seven interrelated subsystem.

Each subsystem can be described and analyzed in
term of structural and functional component.
And the system is tend to be self- maintaining and
self- perpetuating when the internal and external
conditions remain orderly and predictable.
The behavior attempt to achieve balance when the
change is occurs.
the state of instability result in need of nursing
intervention.

Functional requirements
Protected from noxious influences with which

the system cannot cope

Nurtured through the input of appropriate
supplies from the environment
Stimulated for use to enhance growth and
prevent stagnation

Structural requirement
Drives or goals.
Set, predisposition to act.
Choice, alternatives to action.
behavior

Nurse
action
Nurture
Protect
stimuli

Dynamic
enviro
atta
ch
Ex
stressor

Stress
tolerance
flexibility

achie
ve

depe
n

aggr
essi
v

subsystems sexual
inges
t

Int stressor
Active dynamic
bs
Person, group

elem
e

tension

Structural
R
Dynamic
equilibriu
m

Nursing application
A 67-years old man is admitted to hospital for

diagnostic test after CVA , he has been marriage

and father of tow adult children who live in same
city, he came with right side weakness,
expressive aphasia and slurred speech and other
problems.
Nursing application with JBS.
o NURSING ASSESSMENT:
Behavior assessment
1. attachment : (family, friends).
2. Dependency: (on others physically, financially).

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Ingestive :(decrease appetite, difficulty swallowing).

Eliminative:(walk to bathroom).
Sexual:(sexual dysfunction).
Aggressive-protective:(worry of travel family & wife).
Achievement :(relearn walk , talk and ADLs,).

. Environmental assessment:. external environment (hospitalization, diagnostic test,

disabilities).
. Internal environment (biological ,psychological ,
cognitive).
. Structural component:. Drive or gaol(motivate to complete diagnostic test and

return to home).
. Set (evident to make decision).

 Choice( home, rehabilitation program).

action (socialization , request for assistance).
Functional component: Protection( falling down).
Nurturing ( use of left hand).
Stimulation (socialization).
Nursing diagnoses:Incompatibility.
Discrepancy.

Insufficiency .
Dominance.

Planning : for intervention.

Nursing intervention: External regulatory forces that should

protect , stimulate and nurture the behavior

system.
Explanation and teaching the pt ,family and
friends.
Evaluation : Result of implementation
Balance and equilibrium

Acceptance by the nursing

community

PRACTICE-:
.Johnson does not use the term nursing process
Assessment ,Disorders , treatment , and
evaluation are concepts referred to in a
. variety of Johnson`s works
For the practitioner conceptual models provide
a diagnostic and treatment orientation , and
.thus are of considerable practical importance
The Nursing process becomes applicable in the
behavioral system model when behavioral
.malfunction occurs

Recent studies of nursing practice using

Johnson's model have focused on decision
.making and evaluation of outcomes
Grice (1997) found that the nurse , patient, and
situational characteristics influenced
assessment and decision making for the
administration of antianxiety and
antipsychotic medication for psychiatric
.inpatient at certain hours

Education
Loveland and Wilkerson analyzed Johnson
theory and concluded that it has utility in
.nursing education
A curriculum based on a person as a behavioral
system would have definite goals & straight
forward course planning.
The model has been used in practice and
. educational institutions

Research
Johnson stated that nursing research would need to
identify and explain the behavioral system disorders
which arise in connection with illness and develop
.the rationale for the means of management
Nurse researchers have demonstrated the usefulness
of Johnson's theory in clinical practice .most of
these studies have been conducted with
individuals with long-term illnesses, such as urinary
incontinence, chronic pain, cancer, aids
.And psychiatric illnesses

:-Critique

limitations
Very individual.
Family is only considered as an environment.
Focused in nursing care of hospitalized and ill,

not focused on health promotion or prevention

?ANY QUISTIONS