BALBOA, CHARINA DENISE C.

Behavioral

MUSNGI, CAMILLE A.
system
model
DOROTHY E. JOHNSON
 "All of us, scientists and practicing
professionals, must turn our
attention to practice and ask

1919 - 1999
questions of that practice. we must be
inquisitive and inquiring, seeking the
fullest and truest possible
understanding of theoretical and
practical problems we encounter."
-Johnson, 1976
 born on August 21, 1919 in Savannah, Georgia
attained her associate degree in 1938 at
Armstrong Junior College
stopped her studies for a year due to the Great
EARLY LIFE Depression
worked as a governess to two children in
AND Miami, Florida, wherein she discovered her
calling for nursing and teaching
EDUCATION received her Bachelor of Science degree in
nursing in 1942 from Vanderbilt University
master’s of public health degree at Harvard
University in 1948
 staff nurse at Chatham Savannah Health Council from 1943
to 1944
an instructor and assistant professor in pediatric nursing at
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
1949 until her retirement in 1978, she was an assistant
professor of pediatric nursing, an associate professor of
PROFESSION
nursing, and a professor of nursing at the University of
California in Los Angeles
AND in 1955 and 1956, be a pediatric nursing advisor at the
Christian Medical College School of Nursing in Vellore, South
India
PUBLICATIONS 1965 to 1967, the chairperson on the committee of the
California Nurses Association
Johnson produced four books, more than 30 articles in
periodicals as well as many papers, reports, proceedings, and
monographs.
 1975 Faculty Award from graduate students
1977 Lula Hassenplug Distinguished Achievement Award
from California Nurses Association
1981 Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Award for
Excellence in Nursing
ACHIEVEMENTS,
Following her retirement in 1978, she moved to Key Largo,
Florida
AWARDS AND died February 1999 at 80 years of age
she was pleased and proud that her behavioral system
model proved to be useful in advancing the development of
LATE LIFE a theoretical basis in nursing and was utilized as a model in
nursing practice on an institution-wide basis.
greatest satisfaction came from following the successful and
productive careers of her students
BALBOA, CHARINA DENISE C.

MUSNGI, CAMILLE A.
Major Concepts
and Definitions
BEHAVIOR

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Johnson defined behavior as what behavioral and biological
scientists defined as the output of intraorganismic structures
and processes as they are coordinated and articulated by
and responsive to changes in sensory stimulation.

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 Johnson (1980) focused on behavior affected by the actual or
implied presence of other social
beings shown to have major adaptive significance.

SYSTEM
“A system is a whole that functions as a whole by virtue of
independence of its parts”
there
is “organization, interaction, interdependency, and
integration of the parts and elements”. In addition, a person
strives to maintain a balance in these parts through
adjustments and adaptations to the impinging forces.
BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM

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encompasses the patterned, repetitive and purposeful wats
of behaving. These ways of behaving form an organized and
integrated functional unit that determines and limits the

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interaction between the person and his or her environment
and established the relationship of the person to the objects,
events and situations within his or her environment. Usually
the behavior can be described and explained. A person as a
behavioral system tries to achieve stability and balance by
adjustments and adaptations that are successful to some
degree for the efficient and effective functioning. The system
is usually flexible enough to accommodate the influences
effecting it (Johnson, 1980).
SUBSYSTEMS

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“a mini system with its own particular goal and function that
can be maintained as long as its relationship to the other
subsystem or the environment is not disturbed”
The system described appears to exist cross-culturally and

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are controlled by biological, psychological, and sociological
factors. The seven identified subsystems are attachment-
affiliative, dependency, ingestive, eliminative, sexual,
achievement, and aggressive-protective

ATTACHMENT-AFFILIATIVE SUBSYSTEM
It is probably the most critical because it forms the basis for
all social organization. In general, it provides survival and
security. Its consequences are social inclusion, intimacy, and
formation and maintenance of a strong social bond
DEPENDENCY SYSTEM

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promotes helping behavior that calls for a nurturing
response. Its consequences are approval, attention, or
recognition, and physical assistance. Developmentally, it also
evolves from almost total dependence on others to a greater

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degree of dependence on self. A certain amount of
interdependence is essential for the survival of social groups

INGESTIVE SYSTEM
“has to do with when, how, what, how, much, and under
what conditions we eat”
serves the broad function of appetitive satisfaction
associated with social, psychological, and biological
considerations
ELIMINATIVE SYSTEM
This addresses “when, how, and under what conditions we

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eliminate”
SEXUAL SUBSYSTEM
The dual functions of procreation and gratification, including
but not limited to courting and mating, this response

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systems begins with the development of gender role identity
and includes a broad range of sexual behaviors
ACHIEVEMENT SUBSYSTEM
attempts to manipulate the environment. Its function is
control or mastery of an aspect of self or environment to
some standard of excellence

AGGRESSIVE-PROTECTIVE SUBSYSTEM
function is to protect and preserve. This follows the line of
thinking rather than the behavioral reinforcement school of
thought, which contends that aggressive behavior is not
learned, but also has a primary intent to harm others
EQUILIBRIUM

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“a stabilized but more or less transitory, resting state in which
the individual is in harmony with himself and with his
environment”
“It implies that biological and psychological forces are in

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balance with each other and with impinging social forces”
“not synonymous with a state of health, since it may be found
either in health or illness”

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND SUSTENAL

IMPERATIVES
All subsystems must have functional requirements to require
them to develop and maintain their stability. Sustenal
Imperatives such as protection, stimulation and nurturance
are supplied by the environment itself.
REGULATION/CONTROL

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implies that deviations will be detected and corrected. The
nurse can act as a temporary external regulatory force to
preserve the organization and integration of the client’s
behavior at an optimal level in situations of illness or under

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conditions where behavior constitutes a threat to health

TENSION
a state of being stretched or strained that can be viewed as
an end-product of a disturbance in equilibrium

STRESSOR
internal or external stimuli that produce tension and result in
a degree of instability
 Major
Assumptions
NURSING PERSON HEALTH ENVIRONMENT
an external force a behavioral system with The organization, interaction, Any factors that
acting to preserve the organization
patterned, repetitive, and interdependence and influence the
and integration of the patient’s
purposeful ways of behaving integration of the
behavior to an optimal behavioral
that link the person with the subsystem of the behavioral system
level by means of imposing temporary system
environment (the person)
regulatory or control mechanisms or
by or
behavioral systems imbalance

Dorothy Johnson
.C ANIRAHC ,AOBLAB

.A ELLIMAC ,IGNSUM
THEORETICAL ASSUMPTIONS

BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM MODEL

 FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE DOROTHY

Environmental Theory

JOHNSON'S

TALCOTT PARSON
Social Action Theory BEHAVIORAL

THEORY
BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM THEORY
SCIENTISTS SCIENTISTS
in psychology, sociology and which stressed a structural- INSPIRATIONS
ethnology and functional approach
 Central Theme
is based on nursing
contributing to patient welfare through
“efficient and effective behavioral
functioning in the person, both to prevent
illness and during and following
illness. Central theme/concepts of the
nursing theorist”
STNEMELE LARUTCURTS 4
DRIVE OR GOAL
the ultimate consequence of behaviors in it.

SET
tendency or predisposition to act in a certain
way
a. Preparatory: what a person usually
attends to
b. Perseverative: habits one maintains in a
situation

CHOICE
represents the behavior a patient sees himself
or herself as being able to use in any given
situation

ACTION
the behavior of an individual
EACH OF THE SEVEN SUBSYSTEMS HAS THE SAME THREE

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Protection Nurturance Stimulation

These functional requirements must be met through a person’s

own efforts, or with the outside assistance of the nurse.
The behavioral system is made up of
"all the patterned, repetitive, and
purposeful ways of behaving that
characterize each man’s life"
(JOHNSON, 1980)
A state of instability in the behavioral system
results in a need for nursing intervention.
Nursing interventions can be in such general
forms as:
1.   Repairing structural units
2.  Temporarily imposing external regulatory or
control measures
3.   Supplying environmental conditions or
resources
4. Providing stimulation to the extent that any
problem can be anticipated, and preventive
nursing action is in order
SMETSYSBUS NEVES EHT
ATTACHMENT-AFFILIATIVE SUBSYSTEM

DEPENDENCY SYSTEM

INGESTIVE SUBSYSTEM

ELIMINATIVE SUBSYSTEM

SEXUAL SUBSYSTEM

ACHIEVEMENT SUBSYSTEM

AGGRESSIVE-PROTECTIVE
SUBSYSTEM
 A 67-year-old man is admitted to
the hospital for diagnostic tests
after experiencing severe

DEILPPA YROEHT
abdominal pain and streaks of
blood in his stool.
5 feet 10 inches tall
weighs 145 pounds
187 mg/dL blood glucose level
188/100 mm Hg blood pressure
has a history of type 2 diabetes
and hypertension
currently taking
antihypertensive, anticoagulant,
anti-inflammatory, and
antidiabetic medications
 had an acute cerebral vascular
accident (CVA) 6 weeks ago

DEILPPA YROEHT
that resulted in partial paralysis
and numbness of the right arm
and leg, expressive aphasia, and
slurred speech
college graduate who recently
retired
married for 45 years and has 2
adult children
Behavioral Assessment
ACHIEVEMENT
The patient has achieved many developmental goals of adulthood. He is relearning how to do
activities of daily living (ADLs), walk, talk, and perform other cognitive-motor skills such as reading,
writing, and speaking.
ATTACHMENT-AFFILIATIVE
The patient is married with 2 adult children who are supportive and live in the same city. He has
many friends and social contacts who visit frequently.
AGGRESSIVE-PROTECTIVE
The patient worries about his wife travelling to the hospital at night, and he worries that she
doesn’t eat well while staying with him in the hospital.
DEPENDENCY
His recent stroke, resulting in decrease use of his right arm and leg, has affected his mobility and
independent completion of ADLs. His potential for falling, inability to feel his arm or leg if injured,
and weakness are safety concerns. His wife has taken on the financial and home maintenance
responsibilities.
Behavioral Assessment
INGESTIVE
Since the stroke, the patient has had a decreased appetite. He has lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks.
Studies reveal no swallowing difficulties. He is able to feed himself with his left hand but needs
assistance with cutting foods
ELIMINATIVE
The patient is able to urinate without difficulty in the urinal but prefers walking to the bathroom.
He becomes constipated easily because of decreased fluids and food intake.

SEXUAL
There are changes in the patient’s sexual relationship with his wife
because of pain, limited use of his right side, and fatigue.
 The assessment of internal and
external environmental factors
indicates that several are creating

LATNEMNORIVNE
tension and threatening the balance

TNEMSSESSA
and stability of the behavioral
system.
hospitalization and diagnostic
testing adds additional stress and
delays or decreases the prognosis
of the patient’s physical and
speech
rehabilitation
stroke produced several physical
and cognitive impairments
needs assistance to move safely in
the hospital environment
 recent illness, hospitalizations, and

LATNEMNORIVNE
fatigue has decreased his ability to

TNEMSSESSA
participate in previous activities
adapted to his right-sided
weakness and decreased motor
function by performing his ADLs
with his left hand and walking
with a cane
Family members installed a ramp
to facilitate access to the home
Structural Components
DRIVE OR GOAL
The patient seems motivated to complete the diagnostic test and return home. He is eager to get
back to his outpatient rehabilitation program. It seems equally important for him to decrease
stress on his wife. His wife provides positive encouragement and support for him. He
looks to her for assistance with decisions.

SET
It is evident that the patient is accustomed to making his own decisions and being a leader. It is
also evident that he is accustomed to confirming with his wife to ensure she is comfortable with
the decision being made

CHOICE
Although the patient agrees to the diagnostic test, he is no longer in pain and has had no
bleeding since his hospitalization. Therefore, he is more focused on achieving his rehabilitation
goals. He initiates activities and seeks assistance from his family in walking to the bathroom,
walking in the hall, and completing his ADLs.
Structural Components
ACTIONS
The patient socializes with visitors and family by actively participating in conversations. He
requests assistance as needed for physical and cognitive needs. He asks for prayers from his family
and friends for spiritual guidance in managing his illness.
 The patient needs outside assistance
for all three functional requirements
including protection, nurturance,

STNEMERIUQER
and stimulation.

LANOITCNUF
inability to feel his right side and
his impaired mobility increased
his potential for injury
hand bars and a shower chair can
be used
needs assistance with preparing
meals but has adapted to using
his left hand for eating and
drinking
 Socialization and performance
expectations at the outpatient

STNEMERIUQER
rehabilitation facility are

LANOITCNUF
important methods of providing
stimulation for the patient
provided by friends and family
who visit the patient
vital for this patient because he
has difficulty understanding
other forms of stimulation such
as radio, television, and reading
Nursing
NURSING ACTIONS FOR THIS PATIENT SHOULD
FOCUS ON:
providing explanations of diagnostic tests to be performed and the results of the tests
identification of favorite foods and encouragement of small, frequent meals with
sufficient fluids to prevent constipation
The nurse should advocate for inpatient physical and speech therapy to stimulate
functional abilities and reinforce the patient’s achievement behaviors and to decrease
dependency requirements.
encouraging ongoing socialization with friends and family
providing support and teaching to identify methods of adapting to and managing
system imbalance and instability and to identify actions that will enhance behaviors to
create system balance and stability to the patient and his wife
Thank You!