behavioral

especially British, be·hav·iour·al

[bih-heyv-yer-uhl]

adjective

1. relating to a person’s manner of behaving or acting.

   The program provides academic and behavioral supports for students of concern.

   Most of our biggest health risks are largely preventable with behavioral change.

2. Psychology, Animal Behavior.,  relating to or studying observable activity in a human or animal, often thought of as the aggregate of responses to external and internal stimuli.

   This psychiatry textbook offers a thorough discussion of both the behavioral sciences and clinical psychiatry.

   Harassment of wild marine mammals has disrupted their behavioral patterns, including migration, breeding, and feeding.

Other Word Forms

• behaviorally adverb
• behaviourally adverb
• interbehavioral adjective
• interbehavioural adjective
• interbehaviorally adverb
• interbehaviourally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of behavioral¹

First recorded in 1925–30; behavior ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Synthetic dyes are often added to make foods look more appealing, especially products aimed at children, but a growing body of evidence indicates they may contribute to behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and inattention.¹

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I go back to this idea that comes from dialectical behavioral therapy: Two things can be true.

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The study found that certain demographic and behavioral traits were linked to greater misunderstanding of alcohol's effects.

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The results were mixed at best, though, says Joshua Klayman, professor emeritus of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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The data showed that the brain needed that interval to complete its rotation in mathematical space and restore both neural and behavioral focus.

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