The study of human and animal behavior is referred to as behavioral science. Individuals and their behavior, as well as the behavior of societies, groups, and cultures, are studied scientists in this field, as are processes that can contribute to specific behaviors. There is a lot of overlap between this field and the social sciences, which can lead to some misunderstanding. The social sciences are more concerned with structural systems and cultures, whereas behavioral science is concerned with the reactions that occur within and between organisms to determine behavioral patterns.
Research Instruments
Researchers in the field of behavioral science collect data using a variety of methods. Individual and group observation is one of the most powerful methods available because it allows researchers to see behavior and interaction in real time. Many researchers also use ethical, controlled experiments to push the boundaries of normal behavior and investigate the motivations behind actions. However, extreme caution must be exercised to ensure that no human or animal is harmed as a result of such research.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Many social sciences, such as psychology and anthropology, can be used in this field’s research. Some researchers use “harder” sciences like neurology, chemistry, and even geology in their research because people are interested in how the environment influences behavior. Many of these researchers have backgrounds in a variety of fields that come together in behavior research.
Research Findings
Behavioral scientists put the data they collect from their research to a variety of uses. Zoos and breeding programs, for example, frequently rely on behavioral science to properly match their animals and create environments that allow them to live as naturally as possible. Advertisers are keenly interested in this field to learn what motivates people to buy products and how buying patterns evolve. Behavioral research has even influenced work in politics and law enforcement, as leaders and police officers learn to motivate and predict actions based on behavior patterns.
Human, animal, and even plant behavior research has yielded a wide range of findings, some of which have grave implications. Workers in the public health field, for example, have learned to incorporate behavioral science into their work in order to promote healthy behaviors and encourage people to seek medical help. Behavioral science may be used psychologists and other mental health professionals in the treatment of patients. When someone seeks cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of a phobia, for example, the treatment is frequently based on behavioral science findings.
Behavioral research careers
A career in behavioral science could be rewarding for people who are interested in human and animal behavior. Because much of the work involves observation and long-term study of subjects, it necessitates patience and a keen eye for detail. Communication skills, as well as a background in various sciences, are also advantageous. Neurology and biology, for example, are heavily represented in this field, as are ethnology, psychobiology, and studies of social networking, behavioral economics, and memetics.