Behaviour - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Claire Neeson

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In the context of GCSE Psychology, 'behaviour' refers to the way individuals act or conduct themselves, especially in response to their environment, thoughts, emotions, and interactions with others. It encompasses a wide range of activities that can be observed and measured, from overt physical actions like speaking and walking to more subtle responses such as facial expressions and gestures. Understanding behaviour is central to psychology as it helps in analysing how various factors, including biological, social, and cognitive influences, affect the way individuals behave. By studying behaviour, psychologists aim to understand, predict, and sometimes modify actions to promote well-being and address psychological issues.

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Claire Neeson

Reviewer: Claire Neeson

Expertise: Psychology Content Creator

Claire has been teaching for 34 years, in the UK and overseas. She has taught GCSE, A-level and IB Psychology which has been a lot of fun and extremely exhausting! Claire is now a freelance Psychology teacher and content creator, producing textbooks, revision notes and (hopefully) exciting and interactive teaching materials for use in the classroom and for exam prep. Her passion (apart from Psychology of course) is roller skating and when she is not working (or watching 'Coronation Street') she can be found busting some impressive moves on her local roller rink.

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