Human behavior is the collection of behaviors exhibited by human beings and influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and/or genetics.

The behavior of people (and other organisms or even mechanisms) falls within a range with some behavior being common, some unusual, some acceptable, and some outside acceptable limits. In sociology, behavior is considered as having no meaning, being not directed at other people and thus is the most basic human action. Behavior should not be mistaken with social behavior, which is more advanced action, as social behavior is behavior specifically directed at other people. The acceptability of behavior is evaluated relative to social norms and regulated by various means of social control.

The behavior of people is studied by the academic disciplines of psychology, sociology, economics, and anthropology.

In 1970, a book was published called "The Social Contract: A Personal Inquiry into the Evolutionary Sources of Order and Disorder" written by the anthropologist Robert Ardrey. The book and study investigated animal behavior (Ethology) and then compared human behavior as a similar phenomenon.

Factors affecting human behavior

*Genetics - (see also evolutionary psychology)

• Attitude – It is the degree to which the person has a favourable or unfavourable evaluation of the behaviour in question.

• Social Norms – This is the influence of social pressure that is perceived by the individual (normative beliefs) to perform or not perform a certain behaviour.

• Perceived Behavioural Control – This is the individual's belief concerning how easy or difficult performing the behaviour will be.
• this is also the way people act.

See also

• Behavior
• Behavioral modernity
• Behaviorism
• Emotions
• Human sexual behavior
• Human timescales
• Motivation