BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM MODEL

BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM MODEL
INTRODUCTION
Theory and models provide knowledge to improve practice, guide research and nursing curriculum and identify the goals of nursing practice. Theory provides common ground for communication and professional autonomy and accountability. Theory also provides the nurse with goals for assessments, diagnosis, implement and intervention.
The behavioural system model was developed in 1868 by Dorothy E. Johnson. Her theory of nursing focuses on how the client adapts to his illness and how actual or potential stress can offer the clients ability to adapt. For Johnson the goal of nursing is to reduce stress so that the client can move more easily through the recovery process. Johnson’s theory focuses on basic needs interms of seven subsystem of behaviour.
Under normal conditions the client is able to function fairly effectively in his environment. When stress disrupts normal adaptation, however the clients behaviour becomes erratic and less purposeful. The nurse identifies the clients inability to adapt and provides nursing care to resolve problems in meeting the clients needs.
CREDENTIALS AND BACKGROUND OF THE THEORIST
On August 21, 1919 Dorothy E. Johnson was born in Savannah, Georgia.
In 1942, received her Bachelor of science in Nursing from Vanderbilt university in Nashville, Tennessee.
1943-1944, worked as staff nurse at Chatham Savannah Health Council.
In 1948, received her masters degree in public health from Harvard.
From 1949, her teaching career as professor of nursing was at the university of California, Los Angles.
In addition, From 1955 to 1967 she was a pediatric nursing advisor assigned to the Christian Medical College School of Nursing in Vellore, South India.
Her publications about nursing include many books, articles in periodicals and many reports.
In 1968, she proposed her behavioural system model.
She has received many honors such as 1975 faculty award from graduate students and many more.
On 1st Jan 1978, she retired as professor.
In 1980, she published her behavioural system model in “Conceptual Models for Nursing Practice”.
Assumptions
1.Behaviour is the sum total of physical biological, emotional and social factors / behaviours.
2.Behaviour of an individual evident at any given point in time is the product of the net aggregate of consequences of these factors over time and that point in time.
3.When these regularities and constancies are disturbed, the integrity of the person is threatened and the functions. Served by such order are less than adequately fulfilled.
4.Man is a system of behaviour characterized by repetitive, regular, predictable and goal directed behaviours that always strive toward balance.
5.There are different levels of balance and stabilization. Levels are different at different time periods.
6.Balance is essential for effective and efficient functions of the individual (a minimum of energy expenditure, maximum satisfaction and survival)
7.Balance is developed and maintained within the subsystem or the system as whole inorder to maintain adaptation and environment.
8.Changes in structures / function of a behavioural subsystem is related to dissatisfied drive, lack of functional requirement or changes in environmental conditions.
MAJOR CONCEPTS OF JOHNSON’S BEHAVIOURAL SYSTEM MODEL
1. Human Beings 3. Health
2. Society 4. Nursing
Human Beings
Johnson views human beings as having 2 major systems, the biological system and the behavioural system. It is the role of medicine to focus on the biological system, where as nursing focus is the behavioural system.
Society
It relates to the environment in which an individual exists. According to Johnson, an individuals, behaviour is influenced by all the events in the environment.
Health
It is a purposeful, adaptive response, physically, mentally, emotionally and socially, to internal and external stimuli in order to maintain stability and comfort. Johnson’s is attempting to maintain some balance / equilibrium.
Nursing
It has a primary goal that is to faster equilibrium within the individual. Johnson focused nursing on maintaining a balance in the behavioural system when illness occur in the individual.
JOHNSONS SEVEN BEHAVIOURAL SUBSYSTEMS
Johnson believes each individual has patterned, purposeful, repetitive ways of acting that comprise a behavioural system specific to that individual. Johnson identifies seven subsystems with in the behavioural system model. The seven subsystems are considered to interrelated and changes in one subsystem affect all the subsystem.
The following are the seven subsystems
1.Affiliative / Attachment Subsystem
Forms the base for all social inclusion, intimacy and social bonds or provide a sense of security.
2.Dependency Subsystem
“Succoring” behaviour that elicits a nurturing response or self dependence and interdependence.
3.Ingestion Subsystem
Involves food intake, results in appetite satisfaction or taking in nourishment in socially and culturally acceptable ways.
4.Elimination Subsystem
Involves behaviour surrounding the excretion of waste from the body or ridding system of waste in socially and culturally acceptable ways.
5.Sexual Subsystem
Involves behaviour associated with procreation and sexual gratification.
6.Aggressive Subsystem
Involves behaviour related to self protection and preservation of the self and society.
7.Achievement subsystem
Involves behaviour related to manipulation of the environment to gain mastery. Includes intellectual, physical creative, mechanical and social skill.
Behaviour is linked with each subsystem in response to the subsystem components, goals, set, choices and action. The components of each subsystem provide its structure.
Goal : is the drive or motivational aspect of the system
Set : is the predisposition to act with reference to the goal.
Choices : are the repertoire of a available alternatives.
Action : leads to the behavioural output of the system
The structural components of each subsystem give direction for nursing assessment, analysis planning, intervention and evaluation.