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Among the various factors that determine the behaviour of an individual in a social group is the influence of other persons in the group. In a social group, the members are in dynamic interaction with one another. The members of a social group perceive themselves as members of a particular group. They have common needs and goals. They try to attain a goal by working together. The social interaction in such a group contributes significantly to the determination of an individual member. At the same time his actions, attitudes and motivations also influence the behaviour of others.

Behaviour is the way human beings and other organisms act. The word behaviour refers to some actions which may be muscular or glandular or mental or a combination of these. Human beings and human behaviour are very complex. Many people use the word 'behaviour' to mean conduct - that is, how a person's actions fit society's idea of right and wrong. But in psychology and other behavioural sciences, 'behaviour' is regarded as any activity of a person or other living thing.

Human behaviour is determined partly by environment and partly by heredity. It can be modified by learning also.

Environment consists of the conditions and forces that surround and influence on organism. The environment can cause certain behaviour. Unfamiliar surroundings, for example, may arouse curiosity or fear, depending on the circumstances.

Heredity is determined by genes. Genes consist of chemical substances that give the offspring a tendency toward certain physical and behavioural qualities. Genes are short segments of the cell structures called chromosomes, which parents pass on to their offspring. The extent to which heredity influences behaviour is hard to determine. Most scientists agree that genes have some influence over general intelligence and special aptitudes in such activities as science, mathematics, music, and athletics. But heredity is not the only factor involved in producing these characteristics.

Learning is the process by which behaviour changes as a result of practice or experience. Learning takes place constantly because people are always being given new problems or are shown new ways of doing things. A person learns a great deal of behaviour through new environments that show examples of new behaviour, reward or punish new behaviour, and give instruction or provide opportunities to practice new behaviour.

Behaviour is often classified as voluntary or involuntary. Speaking at a meeting appears to be voluntary, and blushing when spoken to seems involuntary, for example. But both types of behaviour may change with experience. Deciding to speak at a meeting may in fact be determined by a person's previous experience of public speaking. In addition, people may not blush any more once they have gained more self-confidence.

Scientists from different fields carry out joint studies of specific problems of behaciour. Many psychologists, sociologists, educational researchers, and anthropologists, for example, are concerned with the ways in which behaviour is connected to physical illness. These scientists work together to learn why people adopt such harmful behaviour patterns as overeating and smoking. The scientists also study how to encourage more healthy behaviour.

Most human behaviour results from a combination of many factors. For example, in answer to an insult, a person might shout. This response probably results from more than just the insult. It may be caused partly by being tired or by having been hurt by someone similar to the person now doing the insulting.

Specialists in many fields study behaviour. Psychologists and some biologists study animal behaviour in controlled experiments. An anthropologist may live in an isolated community to study behaviour patterns of a whole group. Educational researchers study how people behave in the classroom. In sociology, behavioural research focuses mainly on the behaviour of people in large groups and social institutions, such as governments, businesses, hospitals, and churches. Other psychologists study individuals or small groups of people in controlled games or tasks to understand many aspects of behaviour, including the reasons for people's thoughts, feelings, and motives. These studies help astablish principles that can be used to explain, predict, and modify behaviour.

(Free-lance writer & educationist.)