AMITY GLOBAL

BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Understanding Human
Behaviour
Module 1:

• The Concept of human Behaviour

• Nature & Significance
• Factors Affecting Human Behaviour
• Models of Human behaviour
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Why can’t everyone

just learn to get along
with me?
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar
Importance for the study of human
Behaviour
• Existence of the organization depends op the
employees/individuals

• Individuals are different

• Individual Differences

• Aims to understand others

• To determine how and why people behave the way they do

• Is a complicated phenomenon influenced by many factors

– culture, attitude, emotions, values, persuasion etc
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar
Knowing how to do the job is not the key to
success….
It is more important to
know how to work with
people….
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Behaviour Bhubaneswar

• A response/s which is observed directly/indirectly.

• Behavior can be defined as the actions or reactions of a person in

response to external or internal stimulus situation

• Behavior is always the product of two things,

– one- the nature of individual or organism that behaves and
– second- the nature of situation in which the individual find himself. (Situation is a
source of stimulus and is always the organism’s response to stimulus from
environment.)

• Direct observation is possible by studying the responses of people to a

work environment.

• Indirect observations are decision making processes and attitudes, in

terms of results or how people describe them verbally.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Human Behaviour
• Human behaviour is very much
unpredictable.
• Collection of Behaviours exhibited by human
beings & influenced by culture, attitudes,
emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport,
persuasion, coercion and/or genetics.
• Behaviour should not be mistaken with Social
Behaviour (A behaviour specifically directed at
other people)
• The acceptability of behaniour is evaluated
relative to social norms and regulated by
various means of social control
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Classification of Human Behaviour

• To analyze and measure the
behavior psychologists have
divided behavior into
different classes.
– Molecular & Moral Behaviour
– Overt & Covert behaviour
– Voluntary & Involuntary
Behaviour
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Molecular and Moral Behavior

• Molecular behavior: The sudden behavior what occurs
without thinking something is called molecular behavior.
– Example: Abul hits a stick on Kuddus eyes and Kuddus closes
his eyes at once. This is molecular behavior. Unpredictable
situation whereas Kuddus has not any preparation to his eyes or
face situation.

• Moler Behavior: Moler behavior is the opposite of

molecular behavior. When human behavior occurs with a
thinking process is called moler behavior.
–  Example: counter attract.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Overt & Covert Behavior

• Overt behavior: The behavior that is visible and
what occurs outside of human being is called overt
behavior.
– Example: Playing football, eating something is overt
behavior.

•  Covert behavior: The behavior that is not visible

and what occurs inside of human being is called
covert behavior
– Example: thinking.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Voluntary and Involuntary Behavior

• Voluntary behavior: The behavior what depend on
human want is called voluntary behavior. Human beings
always have control on voluntary behavior.
– Example: Speaking, walking, writing etc. 

• Involuntary behavior: Behavior what occurs naturally is

called involuntary behavior.
– Example: Movement of heart, taking oxygen and giving up
carbon dioxide.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Characteristics of Human Behavior

• Social rules and regulations: Human are social beings and

obedient to social rules and regulations. Social rules and
regulation drives an individual in a particular way.

• Language and understanding: Human beings express their

feelings and emotion and conversation with each other through
language. Interaction of individual and group helps them convey
their news and views.

• Education and knowledge: Education is power which enables

an individual to acknowledge the difference between right and
wrong. The value of practice in acquiring skill or knowledge
common feature of human behavior. Education and knowledge
are important modification of human behavior.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Characteristics of Human Behavior

• Adaptability: It is human nature to change in order to deal successfully with new
situation. Human beings always face changing environment. Adaptability with
changing environment is a common characteristic of human behavior.

• Capacity to learn knowledge: Only human being is capable enough to learn

knowledge. Human beings can increase their capacity by acquiring knowledge
and experience. This is unique characteristic of human beings.

• Drive/Aim: Human beings behave with a view to accomplishing their common aim

that drives him to a particular direction. Drive or aim pursues goal directed
behavior.

• Human being is great in behavior and knowledge: Human being is great in

their behavior and knowledge, capable enough to board their knowledge and
experience. 
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Causation of Behavior
• Behavior is a result of interaction between individual and situation.
It is human nature to response stimulus situation. There is a cause
sequence of human behavior. The cause sequence of human
behavior are explain below-
– Stimulus Situation: stimulus may be created by light, sound, job routine,
other people action of supervisor and any aspect of environment in which
a person is sensitive.
– Organism: when stimulus situation faced by a person then organism
automatically start. Organism may be heredity, maturation, biological
needs and many learning such as knowledge, skills, certain needs
attitude and values.
– Behavior: Behavior is a result of stimulus situation and individual
organism that lead to a person to do or behave. Behavior may be body
movement, talking, facial expression, emotional responses and thinking.
– Accomplishment: The latest sequence is accomplishment.
Accomplishment occurs when stimulus situation change. Further
accomplishment may include survival, accident, attract from others
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Don’t judge a book by its cover!!

“The copper coin is for the service you gave me last time. The
gold coin was for your service this time”
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Biological indicators affecting behaviour

• Age

• Gender

• Length of Service

• Marital Status

These are SOCIAL INDICATORS/UNPREDICTABLE

AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Biological Foundations affecting Behaviour

More or less CONSTANT/ PREDICTABLE

• Heredity

• Biological/ Glandular Development

• Nervous System

• Cognitive Process – Thinking/ Problem solving/ Day

dreaming/ Artistic Thinking
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BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Your expertise may blind you!!!

The pack contained only Aces!

AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Analyses the nature of people in terms

of four assumptions:

• Individual Differences

• A whole person

• Caused Behaviour (Motivation)

• Value of the person(Human Dignity)

AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Models to understand Human

Behaviour
Psychoanalytic Theory
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BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Stimulus – Response Process (S–R Model)

• Suggests that behaviour is caused by certain reasons
– Reasons may be
• Internal (motivation)
• External (Stimulus)
– This S-R model, however, does not give the total concept of
caused nature of behaviour specially when the person concerned
plays an important role in behaviour because behaviour is
shaped by his internal feelings also.

Respons
Stimulus
e
Input Output
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Stimulus – Organism – Response Process

(SOR Model)

• The basic drawback of the S-R model is that organism or person is immobile and
passive. Whereas in reality the person concerned plays an important role in
behaviour which is influenced by the internal feelings of the person.
• Hence, S-O-R model of human behaviour is achieved by inserting O (organism) in
the classical S-R model.
• The S-O-R model is based upon the stimulus processed by the organism and
followed by a behaviour.
– This O is not passive and immobile as assumed in S-R model. Rather the O is viewed as
mediating, maintenance and adjective function between S and R.
– As a mediating function, the O is constantly active, scanning its surroundings, monitoring
its own actions, seeking certain conditions and avoiding others.
– As a maintenance function, organs of O are responsible for its health and growth. 

Organis Respons
Stimulus
m e
Input Output
AMITY GLOBAL SOBA Model
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

• Though the insertion of O in S-R model gives some recognition to the importance to the human
variables, it sill remains a relatively mechanistic and simplistic approach and does not explain
the complexity of human behaviour.
• S-O-B-A model is a comprehensive model of human behaviour which combines the S-R situation
and human being. But O in this model is not passive or immobile, but it is mediating, maintenance
and adjustive function between S and R.
– It stimulates the organism or person in to action, interrupt what they are doing and help them to make
their choices. The stimulus incorporates all aspects of the environment-immediate stimulus, physical
environment and socio-cultural environment.
– this O does not stand for only the physiological being but also it includes the process within the person,
e.g., heredity, maturity, knowledge, skills, values, perceptions, attitudes, personality and motivation.
– It includes both overt and covert behaviour such as body moments, talking, facial expressions, emotions,
sentiments and thinking. 
– When behaviour, in turn, acts on the outside world, it leads to accomplishment as shown by single headed
arrow. It is assumed that the accomplishments may further change the stimulating conditions and thereby
influence the subsequent behaviour or it may create new stimulus leading to new behaviour.

Accomplishme
Stimulus Organism Behaviour
nt

Feedback
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL SOBC Model Bhubaneswar

• S-O-B-C model incorporates a more complex mechanism of human

behaviour which modifies and extends S-O-R model.
– In this model, S stands for the situation which is more comprehensive
than stimuli of S-O-R model and incorporates all aspects of the
environment - immediate stimulus, physical environment and socio-
cultural environment.
– O is the organism but does not only represent the physiological being as
in the S-O-R model, but also the physiological being which is more
complex. 
– B stands for pattern of behaviour both overt and convert. 
– C stands for contingent consequences both overt and covert.

Physiologic
Overt & Overt & overt and
al being &
Covert Covert covert can
Cognitive
Stimuli Behaviour sequences
mediator
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

• All the models of organizational behaviour are broadly classified into

four types: autocratic, custodial, supportive and collegial.
• We discuss these four models beginning with the autocratic. O.B. is the
study of human behaviour in organizations, the interface between
human behaviour and the organization and the organization itself.
• The following figures shows, this interrelationship clearly.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Autocratic Model Bhubaneswar

• The basis of this model is power with a managerial orientation

of authority.
• The employees in turn are oriented towards obedience and
dependence on the boss.
• The employee need that is met is subsistence. The performance
result is minimal.
• The managers give orders and the employees have to obey the
orders. Thus, the employees orientation towards the
managers/bosses is obedience.
• Under autocratic conditions, employees give higher performance
either because of their achievement drive or their personal
liking to the boss or because of some other factor.
• Evidences such as the industrial civilization of the United States
and organizational crises do suggest that the autocratic model
produced results. However, its principal weakness is its high human
cost.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Custodial Model Bhubaneswar

• The basis of this model is economic resources with a managerial

orientation of money. The employees in turn are oriented towards
security and benefits and dependence on the organization. The
employee need that is met is security. The performance result is
passive cooperation.

• Stating more accurately, employees having dependence on organization

may not afford to quit even there seem greener pastures around.

• The basis of this model is partnership with a managerial orientation of

teamwork. The employees in turn are oriented towards responsible
behavior and self-discipline.

• Although the custodian approach brings security and satisfaction, it

suffers from certain flaws also. Employees produce anywhere near their
capacities. They are also not motivated to increase their capacities of
which they are capable. Though the employees are satisfied, still they
do not feel motivated or fulfilled in their work they do. 
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Supportive Model
• The basis of this model is leadership with a managerial orientation
of support. The employees in turn are oriented towards job
performance and participation. The employee need that is met is
status and recognition. The performance result is awakened
drives.
• The supportive model is founded on leadership, not on money or
authority. In fact, it is the managerial leadership style that
provides an atmosphere to help employees grow and accomplish
their tasks successfully.
• Thus, under supportive approach, the management's orientation is
to support the employee's job performance for meeting both
organizational and individual goals.
• However, the supportive model of organizational behaviour is
found more useful and effective in developed nations and less
effective in developing nations like ours because of employee's
more awakening in the former and less one in the latter nations.
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

Collegial Model
• The collegial model is an extension of the supportive model.
Under collegial approach, employees feel needed and useful.
They consider managers as joint contributors to organizational
success rather than as bosses.

• Its greatest benefit is that the employee becomes self-discipline.

Feeling responsible backed by self-discipline creates a feeling of
team work.
AMITY GLOBAL
Four
BUSINESS Models
SCHOOL of OrganizationalBhubaneswar
Behaviour
AMITY GLOBAL
BUSINESS SCHOOL Bhubaneswar

“There’s only one person in this world who can dare to pull your Whiskers.
That’s your three year old grandson. So, a box of sweets is the best
punishment.”