Behavioural sciences

The term behavioural sciences encompasses all the disciplines that explore the activities of and interactions among organisms in the natural world. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behaviour through controlled and naturalistic observation, and disciplined scientific experimentation. It attempts to accomplish legitimate, objective conclusions through rigorous formulations and observation (E.D. Klemke, R. Hollinger & A.D. Kline, (eds.) (1980)). Examples of behavioural sciences include psychology, cognitive science, and anthropology.

Difference between behavioural sciences and social sciences

The term behavioural sciences is often confused with the term social sciences. Though these two broad areas are interrelated and study systematic processes of behaviour, they differ on their level of scientific analysis of various dimensions of behaviour.

Behavioural sciences abstract empirical data to investigate the decision processes and communication strategies within and between organisms in a social system. This involves fields like psychology and social neuroscience, among others.

In contrast, social sciences provide a perceptive framework to study the processes of a social system through impacts of social organisation on structural adjustment of the individual and of groups. They typically include fields like sociology, economics, history, counselling, public health, anthropology, and political science (E.D. Klemke, R. Hollinger & A.D. Kline, eds., 1988).

Categories of behavioural sciences

Behavioural sciences includes two broad categories: neural—decision sciences—and social—communication sciences. Decision sciences involves those disciplines primarily dealing with the decision processes and individual functioning used in the survival of organisms in a social environment. These include anthropology, psychology, cognitive science, organisation theory, psychobiology, and social neuroscience.

On the other hand, communication sciences include those fields which study the communication strategies used by organisms and its dynamics between organisms in an environment. These include fields like anthropology, organisational behaviour, organisation studies, sociology and social networks.

Animal behaviourism

Understanding ethology, or animal behaviourism, is very important in animal training. Considering the natural behaviours of certain animals or specific breeds of animals enables the trainer to select the breed best suited to perform the required task. It also enables the trainer to encourage the re-performance of certain naturally-occurring behaviours, and also the discontinuance of undesirable behaviours.

See also

• Behaviour
  • Corrections
  • Human behaviour
• List of academic disciplines
• Religion
• Science
  • Fields of science
    • Natural sciences
    • Social sciences
  • History of science
  • History of technology

Selected bibliography

• George Devereux: From anxiety to method in the behavioral sciences, The Hague, Paris. Mouton & Co, 1967
• Fred N. Kerlinger (1979), Behavioral Research: A Conceptual Approach, New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, ISBN 0030133319
• E.D. Klemke, R. Hollinger & A.D. Kline, (eds.) (1980). Introductory Readings in the Philosophy of Science. Prometheus Books, New York.
• Neil J. Smelser & Paul B. Baltes, eds. (2001). International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 26 v. Oxford: Elsevier.