N_Theory350

Behavioral System Model: 


Dorothy Johnson

Chapter 7


 Overview of Johnson’s Behavioral System Model


• Goal of nursing is to maintain or restore behavioral system balance

• Client is living open system which is collection of behavioral subsystems that interrelate to form behavioral system

• Disturbance in one subsystem effects other subsystems

Seven Subsystems

• Achievement • Affiliative • Aggressive • Dependence

• Sexual • Eliminative • Ingestive

Elements of Subsystem Structure

• Drive or goal • Set • Choice • Action or behavior

Functions of Subsystems

• Achievement subsystem functions to control of self or environment to achieve a standard

• Affiliative or attachment subsystem forms the basis for social organization

• Aggressive or protective subsystem functions to protect and preserve the system

• Dependency subsystem promotes helping or nurturing behaviors

Functions of Subsystems

• Sexual subsystem functions relate to procreation and gratification including development of gender-role identity and behaviors

• Eliminative subsystem addresses when, how, and under what conditions elimination occurs

• Ingestive subsystem has to do with when, how, what, how much, and under what conditions eating occurs


 Major Concepts of Nursing According to Johnson 


• Person: biopsychosocial being who is a behavioral system with seven subsystems of behavior

• Environment: includes internal and external environment

• Health: efficient and effective functioning of system; behavioral system balance and stability

Major Concepts of Nursing According to Johnson

• Nursing: external regulatory force that acts to preserve the organization and integrity of the patient’s behavior at an optimal level under those conditions in which the behavior constitutes a threat to physical or social health or in which illness is found


 Assumptions of the Behavioral 


System Model


• Behavior is sum total of physical, biologic, and social factors

• Person is a system of behavior characterized by repetitive, predictable, and goal-directed behaviors that always strive toward balance


 Assumptions of the Behavioral 


System Model


• Levels of balance and stabilization are different during different time periods

• Persons expend large amounts of energy to maintain or reestablish behavioral system balance


 Propositions of the Behavioral 


System Model


• The behavioral system manages its self- maintaining relationship with the environment, as long as conditions remain orderly

• Balance is essential for effective and efficient functions of the person

• Nursing is an external regulatory force that acts to restore balance to the behavioral system

Brief Critique of the Behavioral System Model

• Model is simple • Concepts are described in detail • Concepts are clearly and consistently defined • Nearly unlimited applicability with ill persons

but has not been widely used with well persons

• Comprehensiveness adequate for providing direction for nursing research, education, administration, and practice


 Johnson’s Behavioral System Model as a Framework for Nursing Practice


• Assessment and Planning: inferences based upon data collected related to organization, interaction, and integration of the subsystems

• Implementation: goals are to restore, maintain, or attain behavioral system balance and stability

• Evaluation: comparison of client’s behavior after treatment to indices of behavioral system balance and stability