Understanding

Individual
Behavior
To know the importance of
understanding individual
behavior

Introduction
There are certain principles that provide a basis for increased selfunderstanding and improved interpersonal relationships. With technological
advances in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, it is easy for a health care
provider to focus on procedures and routines. Patients, however, want
personalized care that conveys respect for the patient as a person.
All organizations are composed of individuals with different personality,
attitudes, values, perceptions, motives, aspirations and abilities. The main
reason to understand behavior is that individuals are different.
Before we proceed to understand human behavior, it is better to know what
the term behavior means. Behavior can be defined as a response/s which is
observed directly or indirectly. Direct observation is by studying the responses
of people to a work environment while indirect observations are decision
making process and attitudes in terms of results or how people describe them
verbally.

ATTITUDE
A Psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a
particular entity with some degree of favour or disfavour."Though it
is sometimes common to define an attitude asaffecttoward an
object, affect (i.e., discrete emotions or overall arousal) is generally
understood to be distinct from attitude as a measure of favourability.
1. Direct experience with the person or situation is the concrete
experience stage of learning
2. Association with other similar persons or situation similar to
abstract conceptualization and generalization.
3. Learning from others their association with the person or
situation is like reflection and observation.

ATTITUDES AND ORGANIZATION

Job Satisfaction refers to an individuals general attitude towards
his or her job which is either positive or negative, satisfied or
dissatisfied.
Job involvement measures the degree to which a person identifies
with his job, actively participates in it and considers his
performance important to his self-worth.
Organization commitment is an orientation in terms of loyalty,
identity and involvement in the organization. These attitudes are
measured so that behavior like productivity, absenteeism and
turnover can be predicted.

Attitude -Behavior Relationship

A counter-argument against the high relationship
between behavioral intention and actual behavior has
also been proposed, as the results of some studies show
that, because of circumstantial limitations, behavioral
intention does not always lead to actual behavior.
Namely, since behavioral intention cannot be the
exclusive determinant of behavior where an individual's
control over the behavior is incomplete

Positive Attitude
Positive attitude helps you cope more easily with the
daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and
makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If
you adopt it as a way of life, it will bring constructive
changes into your life, and makes them happier,
brighter and more successful.
With a positive attitude you see the bright side of life,
become optimistic, and expect the best to happen. It is
certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing.

Negative Attitude
A negative attitude is characterized by a great disdain
for everything. Someone who constantly points out the
negative in everything.
A negative attitude is contagious and therefore
avoiding people with one is the best way of prevention.
Once you have a negative attitude, you will unlikely be
able to recover and self fulfilling prophecy takes a hold.

Positive attitude manifests in the following

ways:
Positive thinking.
Constructive thinking.
Creative thinking.
Expectation of success.
Optimism.
Motivation to accomplish your goals.
Being inspired.

Positive
Smile easily
Willing to change ideas and
behavior
Can see another persons point
of view
Rarely complains
Accepts responsibility for
mistakes
Seldom criticizes others
Is considerate of others
Look others people in eyes
when talking with them
Respects other opinion of others
Never make excuse
Has a variety of interests

Negative
Rarely smiles
Unwilling to change

Cant see another persons

point of view
Blames others for own
mistakes
Very critical of others
Thinks only of self
Does not look other people in
the eyes
Forces own opinions on
others
Often makes excuses
Has few interests

Affectively Based Attitude

An attitude based more on peoples feelings and values
than on beliefs about the nature of an object.

Sometimes we simply like something, a car for

example, regardless of how many miles to the
gallon it gets (e.g., prestige, image).
Occasionally we even feel great about something
(or someone) despite the existence of negative
beliefs (e.g., politicians)

Cognitively Based Attitude

An attitude based primarily on peoples beliefs
about the properties of an attitude object.

Sometimes our attitudes are based primarily

on the relevant facts the objective merits of
a car (e.g., how many miles to the gallon does
it get?; Does it have side-impact air bags?)

VALUES
Values are encompassing concepts. Values are at the core of personality and that they are
powerful though silent force affecting behavior.
Values are so embedded that it can be inferred from peoples behavior and their expressed
attitudes. But values are a strong force in people. What may appear to be strange behavior
in an employee can makes sense if managers understand the values underlying that
behavior.
Rokeach (1973) values represent basic convictions that a specific mode of control or endstate of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of
conduct or end-state of existence.
Terminal values relates to ends to be achieved
Instrumental values relate to means for achieving desired ends

VALUES
Basic convictions on how to conduct yourself or how to live your life that is personally
or socially preferable How To live life properly.
Attributes of Values:
Content Attribute that the mode of conduct or end-state is important
Intensity Attribute just how important that content is

Value System
A persons values rank ordered by intensity
Tends to be relatively constant and consistent

Allport Six Types of Values

1. Theoretical Places high importance on the discovery of truth
through critical and rational approach.
2. Economic Emphasizes to be useful and practical.
3. Aesthetic places the highest value on form and harmony.
4. Social The highest value is given to the love of people.
5. Political places emphasis on acquisition of power and influence.
6. Religious Concerned with the unity of experience and
understanding of the cosmos as a whole.

Importance of Values
Provide understanding of the attitudes, motivation, and behaviors
Influence our perception of the world around us
Represent interpretations of right and wrong
Imply that some behaviors or outcomes are preferred over others