behavior/behaviour
behavior/behaviour
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling
/bɪˈheɪvjər/
Syllable Breakdown:
bi-: /bɪ/
hav-: /heɪv/
ior/our: /jər/
Word Form Variations
The primary word form variations of "behavior/behaviour" are:
Singular Noun: behavior (US), behaviour (UK)
Plural Noun: behaviors (US), behaviours (UK)
Adjective: behavioral (US), behavioural (UK)
Adverb: behaviorally (US), behaviourally (UK)
Verb (from which the noun derives): behave (present), behaved (past), behaving (present participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun (Behavior/Behaviour)
The observable actions, reactions, and deportment of an individual, group, or organism in response to internal or external stimuli. This definition encompasses both conscious and unconscious actions, and can refer to anything from a simple reflex to complex social interactions.
Synonyms: conduct, actions, deportment, demeanor, manner, bearing, comportment.
Antonyms: (Direct antonyms are difficult as "behavior" simply describes action, not its quality. However, one could consider the absence of typical or expected behavior, or certain internal states that don't manifest externally.) Inactivity, inaction, thought (when not expressed).
The way in which a system, substance, or machine functions or operates under specific conditions. This definition extends the concept of observable actions to non-living entities, describing their predictable or characteristic responses.
Synonyms: operation, functioning, performance, action, response.
Antonyms: malfunction, failure, inertness, stasis.
The manner in which a person conducts themselves, often in relation to social norms, etiquette, or moral standards; a person's conduct. This definition emphasizes the social and ethical aspects of how one carries oneself.
Synonyms: manners, etiquette, decorum, propriety, ethics, morals, civility.
Antonyms: misconduct, impropriety, rudeness, indecorum, misbehavior, discourtesy.
Examples of Use
Book: "The behavior of a true gentleman, he thought, was always marked by a quiet strength and unwavering courtesy, even in the face of adversity." (Adapted from a historical fiction novel, The Gilded Age by Edith Wharton, though the specific quote is an example.)
Newspaper: "Experts are studying how recent climate shifts are impacting the migratory behaviour of various bird species across the continent." (The Guardian)
Online Publication: "Google's new privacy policy aims to give users more control over their online behavior and data sharing." (TechCrunch)
Entertainment (Television Series): In an episode of the psychological drama "Mindhunter," FBI agents discuss the behavior patterns of serial killers to develop criminal profiles. (Netflix, "Mindhunter," Season 1, 2017)
Entertainment (Film): A character in the film "Arrival" observes the behavior of the alien visitors, attempting to decipher their intentions through non-verbal cues. (Paramount Pictures, "Arrival," 2016)
Entertainment (Video Game): In the game "The Sims," players can influence the behavior of their virtual characters through various interactions and environmental factors. (Electronic Arts, "The Sims 4," 2014)
General Public Discourse (Social Media Post): "It's disheartening to see such negative behavior directed at public figures online. We need to encourage more respectful discourse." (X (formerly Twitter)
General Public Discourse (Conversation): "I'm concerned about my dog's recent behavior; he's been unusually withdrawn and not eating much." (Everyday conversation)
General Public Discourse (Educational Context): A teacher might say, "Please pay attention to your classroom behavior during the assembly." (School setting)
10 Quotes Using Behavior/Behaviour
"Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge." (Plato)
"The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit from it. It's a tribute to the ingenuity of the human mind that we have been able to make even this simple concept seem complicated. But the fundamental insight is profound: Voluntary exchange is the engine of prosperity, and it arises from the choices of individuals pursuing their own self-interest, but constrained by the behavior of others." (Milton Friedman)
"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions and my behavior." (Stephen Covey)
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." (Attributed to Frank Outlaw, paraphrasing a common proverb often associated with Mahatma Gandhi, though the specific word "behavior" isn't in all versions of the proverb, this particular phrasing often includes it or implies it through "actions" and "habits" which are forms of behavior.)
"If you want to understand behaviour, you have to understand the context in which it occurs." (B.F. Skinner)
"Culture is the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from others. It is the learned behaviour of members of a given social group." (Geert Hofstede)
"Good behaviour is the last refuge of the unimaginative." (Oscar Wilde)
"Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary." (Reinhold Niebuhr, often interpreted as a commentary on the need for structures to manage human behavior)
"You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it." (Attributed to various self-help authors)
"The behaviour of men is the best interpreter of their thoughts." (John Locke)
Etymology
The word "behavior" (or "behaviour" in British English) has a fascinating history rooted in older forms of English and even Latin.
At its core, "behavior" comes from the verb "behave." To understand "behavior," we need to look at how "behave" developed.
"Behave" in Middle English (the language spoken in England roughly from the 11th to 15th centuries) was "behaven." This was formed by combining the intensifying prefix "be-" with the verb "have."
Now, the "have" part here isn't just about "owning" something. In older forms of English (and even in German, like "sich behaben," and French, "se porter"), "have" could also mean "to carry oneself" or "to comport oneself" in a certain way. Think of it as "to hold oneself."
So, "behaven" essentially meant "to hold oneself in a particular way."
The noun "behavior" then came about in the late 15th century. It's believed to have been formed from "behaven" (our modern "behave") but with an ending that mimicked the Middle English word "havour." "Havour" itself was a slightly changed version of the Old French word "aveir" or "avoir," which meant "a having" or "possession," and ultimately traced back to the Latin word "habēre," meaning "to have."
So, the first known meaning of "behavior" was essentially "the manner of behaving," or "conduct" and "manners," referring to how someone carried themselves, whether it was good or bad.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Behavior/Behaviour
Bad behavior/Bad behaviour: Misconduct; actions that are considered improper or undesirable.
Good behavior/Good behaviour: Conduct that is considered proper, polite, or in accordance with rules. Often used in legal contexts (e.g., "released for good behavior").
Antisocial behavior/Antisocial behaviour: Actions that cause distress, damage, or annoyance to others, often violating social norms.
Obsessive behavior/Obsessive behaviour: Repetitive actions or rituals often driven by anxiety or intrusive thoughts.
Customer behavior/Customer behaviour: The study of how individuals, groups, or organizations select, buy, use, and dispose of ideas, goods, and services to satisfy their needs and wants.
Risk-taking behavior/Risk-taking behaviour: Actions involving exposure to danger or the chance of loss.
Problem behavior/Problem behaviour: Difficult or challenging conduct, especially in children or animals.
To curb one's behavior/To curb one's behaviour: To control or limit one's actions.
To modify behavior/To modify behaviour: To change or alter someone's actions, often through psychological techniques.
Be on one's best behavior/Be on one's best behaviour: To act in the most polite and proper way possible, especially in a formal situation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of behavior/behaviour from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
