behavior

be·hav·ior

noun \bi-ˈhā-vyər, bē-\

Definition of BEHAVIOR

1

a : the manner of conducting oneself b : anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation c : the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment

2

: the way in which someone behaves; also : an instance of such behavior

3

: the way in which something functions or operates

— be·hav·ior·al \-vyə-rəl\ adjective

— be·hav·ior·al·ly \-rə-lē\ adverb

Examples of BEHAVIOR

1. I'm surprised by her bad behavior toward her friends.
2. Students will be rewarded for good behavior.
3. scientists studying the behavior of elephants
4. An acceptable social behavior in one country may be unacceptable in another country.
5. Doctors are trying to educate people about behaviors that can put them at increased risk for skin cancer.
6. The experiment tested the behavior of various metals under heat and pressure.

Origin of BEHAVIOR

alteration of Middle English behavour, from behaven

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BEHAVIOR

Synonyms: actions, address, bearing, comportment, conduct, demeanor, deportment, geste (also gest) [archaic]

Related Words: etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties; p's and q's; amenity, civility, courtesy, decorum, politeness; air, attitude, carriage, poise, pose, posture, presence; aspect, look, mien; formality, protocol, rules; custom, habit, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), trick, wont; convention, fashion, form, mode, style; affectation, attribute, characteristic, mark, trait; distinctiveness, oddity, peculiarity, singularity, strangeness, uniqueness, weirdness

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Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal