Why do people behave in the way they do?
In the following summary I will try to briefly explain some of the main themes that answer this question and how we can try to convince people to keep to the rules to ensure their own safety and that of those around them.
Human behaviour is largely constrained by the rules that govern particular situations and environments. We are constantly obliged to behave in a particular way, or to avoid certain behaviours. These rules may be formal regulations such as laws, or they may be informal rules of 'social etiquette', which are not written down but are implicit within the situation itself.
Attitudes vs behaviour
Attitudes have generally been considered as 'steering' behaviour in some fairly concrete way. Traditionally, it is thought that if you change someone's attitudes, then their behaviour will also change to fall in line with those changes. However, although there is evidence showing that this approach can work, it has been suggested that it is not often the case, and even when it is, those changes in behaviour are not as great as one would expect. In addition, there is a problem in measuring attitudes - the attitudes that an individual claims to support are only true at the moment that they are requested. A large number of factors will affect those stated attitudes. Consider a Fire Officer asking a youth about their attitude towards smoking in bed, after they have just attended a talk on the dangers of domestic fires. Can we assume that this measure is accurate and likely to predict behaviour? It is unlikely, and although this is an extreme example, the same effects can be seen whenever a measure of attitude is taken.
Habits
An attitude is essentially a 'behavioural intention'; how we would like to behave at the time that we are asked. The trouble is that there are a huge variety of things that stop us from behaving in the way we say we would like to behave. One of the strongest influences is habit; how we have always behaved in the past when a particular set of circumstances has arisen. We may think that smoking in bed after a few beers is potentially dangerous, but if that is what we have always done when we get home from a night out, then we will continue to do so regardless. Throughout our lives, habits form the strongest basis for predicting behaviour.
Why do habits form?
Humans have only a limited cognitive capacity; we can only think about a certain number of things at a time. The less thought that goes into our day-to-day lives, the better. As a result of this, we have adapted the way in which we use this finite capacity. Habits enable us to deal with situations that we have encountered before (and possibly had to think about quite carefully), without expending too much of that precious cognitive capacity. We don't have to think particularly hard about what we are doing; we don't have to pay too much attention to our environment or to our actions. We can think about other, more important things, while still being able to live our day-to-day lives.
I am also attaching a power point presentation on behaviour
Cheers
Prof.Lakshman
From Sri Lanka, Kolonnawa
32In the following summary I will try to briefly explain some of the main themes that answer this question and how we can try to convince people to keep to the rules to ensure their own safety and that of those around them.
Human behaviour is largely constrained by the rules that govern particular situations and environments. We are constantly obliged to behave in a particular way, or to avoid certain behaviours. These rules may be formal regulations such as laws, or they may be informal rules of 'social etiquette', which are not written down but are implicit within the situation itself.
Attitudes vs behaviour
Attitudes have generally been considered as 'steering' behaviour in some fairly concrete way. Traditionally, it is thought that if you change someone's attitudes, then their behaviour will also change to fall in line with those changes. However, although there is evidence showing that this approach can work, it has been suggested that it is not often the case, and even when it is, those changes in behaviour are not as great as one would expect. In addition, there is a problem in measuring attitudes - the attitudes that an individual claims to support are only true at the moment that they are requested. A large number of factors will affect those stated attitudes. Consider a Fire Officer asking a youth about their attitude towards smoking in bed, after they have just attended a talk on the dangers of domestic fires. Can we assume that this measure is accurate and likely to predict behaviour? It is unlikely, and although this is an extreme example, the same effects can be seen whenever a measure of attitude is taken.
Habits
An attitude is essentially a 'behavioural intention'; how we would like to behave at the time that we are asked. The trouble is that there are a huge variety of things that stop us from behaving in the way we say we would like to behave. One of the strongest influences is habit; how we have always behaved in the past when a particular set of circumstances has arisen. We may think that smoking in bed after a few beers is potentially dangerous, but if that is what we have always done when we get home from a night out, then we will continue to do so regardless. Throughout our lives, habits form the strongest basis for predicting behaviour.
Why do habits form?
Humans have only a limited cognitive capacity; we can only think about a certain number of things at a time. The less thought that goes into our day-to-day lives, the better. As a result of this, we have adapted the way in which we use this finite capacity. Habits enable us to deal with situations that we have encountered before (and possibly had to think about quite carefully), without expending too much of that precious cognitive capacity. We don't have to think particularly hard about what we are doing; we don't have to pay too much attention to our environment or to our actions. We can think about other, more important things, while still being able to live our day-to-day lives.
I am also attaching a power point presentation on behaviour
Cheers
Prof.Lakshman
From Sri Lanka, Kolonnawa
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Org Culture & behaviour.ppt
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