The Importance Of Human Behavior

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Recommended: Significance of self-concept

While the range of human behavior is complex and impressively varied, behavior can be described by employing the above equation that simplifies its central components. The first determinant of behavior is an individual’s self-concept. Self-concept is defined as the sum of emotion and the interaction between cognition and consistency. The second determinant of behavior is the environment. These environmental stimuli can reach the individual on both a conscious and subconscious level. Combined, these factors can begin to account for and predict human behavior. Self-concept is distinctly effected by both positive and negative emotion which, in turn, have clear influences on behavior. For instance, inducing a positive mood makes an individual …show more content…

Cognitions include beliefs and biases that are often formed while attempting to conserve cognitive energy. Humans are cognitive misers that create shortcuts and simplifying complex situation in an effort at efficiency (Fiske & Taylor, 1991). Individuals also attempt efficiency through expedited comparisons to immediately available information (Kenrick & Gutierres, 1980; Marsh, Kong & Hau, 2000; Thorton & Maurice, 1997). Consequently, the efficient cognitive processing may not be effective, inevitably creating biases and prejudices. These beliefs, however flawed, are predictors of behavior when there is high attitude accessibility. (Fazio & Williams, 1986) (Fazio, 1986; Fazio, 1989) (Fazio, Chen, McDonald & Sherman, 1982; Fazio, Powell & Her 1983; Fazio & Zanna, 1981; Regan & Fazio, 1977). Cognition clearly guides one’s attitudes and …show more content…

Activity in the pleasure centers of the brain increases when dissonance is resolved, suggesting that humans have a biologically driven craving for consistency (Western, Kilts, Blagow, Harenski & Hamann, 2006). Due to this powerful drive, behavior can be directly impacted by the interaction of cognition and cognitive dissonance, such as behavioral changes after prompting a feeling of hypocrisy within an individual (Dickerson, Thibodeau, Aronson & Miller, 1992; Stone, Aronson, Crain, Winslow & Fried, 1994; Aronson, 1997; Aronson, 1998). Cognitions set the stage for behavior and our drive for consistency influences us to act and think in a way that is most dissonance

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