The Basics

What is considered behavior? 

We can use the "dead man test": if you are alive, you engage in behaviors. Anything you do throughout your day that is not a reflex (blinking), can be considered behavior. So, when I fix my coffee first thing in the morning while half awake, behavior; when I drive my husband to work at 6am, behavior; typing this blog when I should be studying, behavior. Believe it or not, emotions and thoughts are behaviors as well. So as I was laying in bed last night thinking about all of the things I have to figure out in the next couple of weeks, I was behaving. Are you starting to get the picture that almost every moment of our lives is spent behaving?

So, now that we know what behavior is, it is important to understand that all behavior happens within specific environments. Many of my behaviors which I described above happen in the environment of my home. This picture shows the environment that is associated with worrying (and of course sleeping) for me. Each person has many different environments in which they engage in behaviors. Those specific environments play a very important role in shaping the behaviors you and I engage in. Even without any human involvement the environments we are in can change our behaviors.

All of this is very boring and probably reminds you slightly of a science class. It is necessary for me to explain all of these things in order for me to eventually share my insanely nerdy stories about how my behavior has been shaped and how I shape others' behaviors in my life.

My dog Igor

Coming up next: Learn about the principles of behavior that can be used to change the behaviors of your children, your husband, your boss and even your dog!