Dorothy Johnson: Behavioral System Model WEEK 6
NCM 100 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Date 11/--/2022 | Atty. Dedal
I. Credentials and Backgrounds Behavioral System Model
II. Behavioral System Model Developing the Behavioral System Model from a
Behavior philosophical perspective, Johnson (1980) wrote
System that nursing contributes by facilitating effective
Behavioral System behavioral functioning in the patient before,
Subsystem during, and after illness. She used concepts from
Equilibrium other disciplines, such as social learning,
Functional Requirements and motivation, sensory stimulation. Adaptation,
Sustenal Imperatives behavioral modification, change process, tension,
Regulation/Control and stress to expand her theory for the practice
Tension of nursing.
Stressor
III. The Seven (7) Subsystems Behavior
Attachment-Affiliative Subsystem
Output of intraorganismic structures and
Dependency Subsystem
processes as they are coordinated and
Ingestive Subsystem
articulated by and responsive to changes in
Eliminative Subsystem
sensory stimulation
Sexual Subsystem
Achievement Subsystem System
Aggressive-Protective Subsystem
IV. Metaparadigms of Dorothy Johnson A whole that functions as a whole by virtue
Nursing of the interdependence of its parts.
Person
Behavioral System
Health
Environment Encompasses the patterned, repetitive, and
V. Acceptance by the Nursing Community purposeful ways of behaving.
Practice
Education Subsystem
Research
A “mini-system” with its own particular goal
VI. Reference
and function that can be maintained as long
Legend: Black for Alligood 10th Edition, Blue for Alligood 9th Edition, as its relationship to other subsystems or
Note: No audio lecture notes environment is not disturbed.
The Seven (7) Subsystems
Credentials and Backgrounds
Attachment-Affiliative Subsystem
Born in August 21, 1919, in Savannah,
Georgia. Is probably the most critical because it forms
the basis for all social organization. On a
She received her associate’s degree from
general level, it provides survival and
Armstrong Junior College in Savannah,
security. Its consequences are social
Georgia (1938), her bachelor of science
inclusion, intimacy, and formation and
degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University
maintenance of a strong social bond.
in Nashville, Tennessee (1942), and her
master’s of public health degree from Dependency Subsystem
Harvard University in Boston (1948).
Promotes helping behaviour that calls for a
Johnson’s professional experiences involved nurturing response. Its consequences are
mostly teaching, although she was a staff approval, attention or recognition, and
nurse at the Chatham-Savannah Health physical assistance. Developmentally,
Council from 1943 to 1944. dependency behavior evolves from almost
total dependence on others to a greater
She was an instructor and an assistant
degree of dependence on self. A certain
professor in pediatric nursing at Vanderbilt
amount of interdependence is essential for
University School of Nursing.
the survival of social groups.
ABANILLA, COLIBAO, COSTELO
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Dorothy Johnson: Behavioral System Model WEEK 6
NCM 100 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Date 11/--/2022 | Atty. Dedal
Ingestive Subsystem such as protection, nurturance, and
stimulation.
The ingestive and eliminative subsystems
should not be seen as the input and output Regulation/Control
mechanisms of the system.
Implies that deviations will be detected and
Has to do with when, how, what, how much, corrected. Feedback is, therefore, a
and under what conditions we eat. requirement of effective control.
It serves the broad function of appetitive Tension
satisfaction.
A state of being stretched or strained and
Eliminative Subsystem can be viewed as an end-product of a
disturbance in equilibrium.
It addresses when, how, and under what
conditions we eliminate. Can be constructive in adaptive change or
destructive in inefficient use of energy,
Sexual Subsystem hindering adaptation and causing potential
Has the dual functions of procreation and structural damage.
gratification. Including, but not limited to, It is the cue to disturbance in equilibrium.
courting and mating.
Stressor
Development of gender role identity and
includes the broad range of sex-role Internal or external stimuli that produce
behaviors. tension and result in a degree of instability.
Achievement Subsystems Stressors causes stress:
Attempts to manipulate the environment. Its Types of stressors: (1) Positive
function is control or mastery of an aspect of Stressor - pushes you to achieve
self or environment to some standard of something more
excellence.
(2) Negative Stressor - could take its
Includes intellectual, physical, creative, toll on you (ex: family problems)
mechanical, and social skills.
Types of Stimuli (1) Endogenous (with in)
Aggressive-Protective Subsystem and Exogenous (outside)
Its function is protection and preservation. Metaparadigms of Dorothy Johnson
It is not only learned, but also has a primary
intent to harm others. 1. Nursing.
Equilibrium According to Dorothy Johnson, nursing is an
external force acting to preserve the
Johnson stated that equilibrium is a key
organization and integration of the patient’s
concept in nursing’s specific goal.
behavior to an optimal level by means of
A stabilized but more or less transitory, imposing temporary regulatory or control
resting state in which the individual is in mechanisms or by providing resources while
harmony with himself and with his the patient is experiencing stress or
environment. behavioral system imbalance.
Functional Requirements and Sustenal 2. Person.
Imperatives
Johnson viewed the person as a behavioral
For the subsystems to develop and maintain system with patterned, repetitive, and
stability, each must have a constant supply purposeful ways of behaving that link the
of functional requirements. The person with the environment.
environment supplies sustenal imperatives
ABANILLA, COLIBAO, COSTELO
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Dorothy Johnson: Behavioral System Model WEEK 6
NCM 100 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Date 11/--/2022 | Atty. Dedal
Johnson assumed that a behavioral system is as in nursing administration. It has been
essential to human beings. used with a variety of client populations, and
several practice tools have been developed.
3. Health
Assessment, disorders, treatment, and
Johnson perceived health as an elusive, evaluation are concepts referred to in a
dynamic, state influenced by biological, variety of Johnson’s works.
psychological, and social factors.
2. Education
4. Environment
A curriculum based on a person as a
The environment consists of all the factors behavioral system would have definite goals
that are not part of the individual’s and straightforward course planning. Study
behavioral system, but that influence the would center on the patient as a behavioral
system. system and its dysfunction, which would
It is also the source of the sustenal require use of the nursing process.
imperatives of protection, nurturance, and 3. Research
stimulation that are necessary prerequisites
to maintain health (behavioral system Identify and explain the behavioral system
balance. disorders which arise in connection with
illness, and develop the rationale for the
means of management
Study of behavioral system as a whole,
including such issues as stability and change,
organization and interaction, and effective
regulatory and control mechanisms
Study of the subsystems, including the
identification of additional subsystem.
Reference
Nursing Theorists and Their Work. Martha Raile
Alligood. 8th Edition.
Nursing Theorists and Their Work. Martha Raile
Alligood. 10th Edition.
Figure 18-1. Johnson’s Behavioral System Model.
Acceptance by the Nursing Community
1. Practice
The utility of the Johnson behavioral system
theory is evident from the variety of clinical
settings and age groups in which the theory
has been used. It has been used in inpatient,
outpatient, and community settings as well
ABANILLA, COLIBAO, COSTELO
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