ohnson’s Behavioral System Model is a model of nursing care that advocates the fostering of efficient and effective behavioral functioning in the patient to prevent illness. The patient is identified as a behavioral system composed of seven behavioral subsystems: affiliative, dependency, ingestive, eliminative, sexual, aggressive, and achievement. The three functional requirements for each subsystem include protection from noxious influences, provision for a nurturing environment, and stimulation for growth. An imbalance in any of the behavioral subsystems results in disequilibrium. It is nursing’s role to assist the client to return to a state of equilibrium.
Major Concepts
Johnson (1980) views human beings as having two major systems: the biological system and the behavioral system. It is the role of medicine to focus on the biological system, whereas nursing’s focus is the behavioral system.
The concept of human being was defined as a behavioral system that strives to make continual adjustments to achieve, maintain, or regain balance to the steady-state that is adaptation.
Environment is not directly defined, but it is implied to include all elements of the surroundings of the human system and includes interior stressors.
Health is seen as the opposite of illness, and Johnson defines it as “some degree of regularity and constancy in behavior, the behavioral system reflects adjustments and adaptations that are successful in some way and to some degree… adaptation is functionally efficient and effective.”
Nursing is seen as “an external regulatory force which acts to preserve the organization and integration of the patient’s behavior at an optimal level under those conditions in which the behavior constitutes a threat to physical or social health, or in which illness is found.”
Behavioral system
Man is a system that indicates the state of the system through behaviors.
System
That which functions as a whole by virtue of organized independent interaction of its parts.
Subsystem
A minisystem maintained in relationship to the entire system when it or the environment is not disturbed.