HUMAN BEHAVIOR

AND THE SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENT
 What is Human Behavior?

• In Science, Human Behavior commonly refers to the way

humans act and interact; the actions and thoughts and
emotions of individual and groups.
• Human Behavior research and human behavior studies look
into several research questions, like’ Why do we act the
way we do? How is our behavior influenced, or measured?
The goal of this field is to understand why people behave in
the ways that they do and to use this understanding.
 HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• This knowledge area focuses on knowledge about the

INDIVIDUAL as a bio-psycho-social being, the interaction
between him/her and the physical, social, cultural, political, and
economic forces and the environment which affect or influence
behavior.
THERE ARE 3 COMPONENTS THAT INFLUENCE
HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY:

1.THE BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS

2.THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
COMONENTS-

3.THE SOCIAL COMPONENTS

1.THE BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS- would include the individuals state of
health and nutrition, genetics, and natural physical endowments at birth, normal
biological growth and development, as well as any deviation from normal functioning
including illnesses and physical disabilities.
2.THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COMONENTS- is concerned with the individual's
personality comprising what is commonly termed “ inner states which has 3. aspects
(cognitive, emotional and conative).
3. THE SOCIAL COMPONENT includes the ff:

-Institutional
-Societal -Status
Organization

-Normative -Interactive
 CULTURE- refers to the knowledge, beliefs ,art,
morals, law, customs etc. that constitute the way of
life of a people or society.
The term
“Biopsychosocial”
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT- has two
omits other important aspect,
determinants of
personality and 1.The Nurture Environment-which makes
behavior namely demands, sets, topography, amount of
rainfall and ozone level.
CULTURE AND
PHYSICAL 2.TheConstructed Environment- such as
ENVIRONENT. homes, offices, and hospitals, which can
name psychological effects.
• The Biological, Psychological, Physical, Social and
Cultural determinants of human behavior can be
grouped into internal( nature) and external
(nurture).
 WHAT IS PARADIGM?

• Is a distinct set of concepts, theories, and postulates

that constitute a philosophical or theoretical
framework. The two dominant paradigms in social
work are positivism and constructivism. Within this
two paradigms, there are a number of theories that help
shape the practice of social work.
THE CONSTRUCTIVISM PARADIGM

• Postmodernism is a more event period of

philosophical thought that assumes that language
is used to construct are perception of reality
(Grence Jensen, Jones, 1996).
 THE DOMINANT POSTMADERISM ARE
CONSTRUCTIVISM AND POSITIVISM

• The Constructionism emphasize the use of internal

process to understand the world make meaning of ones
reality.
• Constructivism also emphasizes internal process as
well as interactions with others and objects in the
environment.
THE POSITIVISM PARADIGM
• Positivism has been one of the dominant paradigm in social
work and social sciences of the century.( Reile $ MC Cavat,
199).
• Positivism is associated with a period of philosophical thought
generally referred to as modernism. Positivism believe that
knowledge grows art of careful observation and empirical
verification.