Dorothy Johnson’s Behavioral
Systems Model
CHRISTINE DOUGLAS AND DANA HOGAN
Backgound
 Born August 21st 1919
 Associates Degree in
1938 from Armstrong
Junior College in
Savannah Georgia
 1942 BSN Vanderbilt
University in Nashville
Tennessee
 1948 Masters in public
health Harvard
University Boston
Massachusetts
Influences
 Florence Nightengale
 Hans Selye
 Teaching
 Empirical approach to nursing
Nurse Goals
 Nurses specifically ….
“Contribute to patient welfare as that of fostering
efficient and effective behavioral functioning in the
person both to prevent illness and during and
following illness” (Johnson, 1980)
Definitions
 Person
 A behavioral system comprised of subsystems constantly
trying to maintain a steady state.
 Environment
 Not clearly defined.
 Health
 Balance and stability.
 Nursing
 External regulatory force that is only indicated when there is
instability.
7 or 8 Behavioral Subsystems
 Affiliative
 Dependency
 Ingestive
 Elimination
 Sexual
 Aggressive
 Achievement
 Restorative
Four Assumptions
 Form of behavior can infer what drive or what goal
 Predisposition to act
 Different choices/scope of choices
 Outcomes are produced
Goal  Set  Choice  Behavior
Testing The Theory
 1980 Damus tested the validity of Johnson’s model
which assisted in sustaining the utilization of model
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Relationship exists between the patient’s unbalanced
physiologic state and behavioral conduct
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Alterations in behavioral patterns could be
recognized/hypothesized
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Nursing diagnosis and interventions were interrelated
concepts
Tools Developed Based On Theory
 1978- Majesky, Brestor, and Nishio
 Patient Indicators of Nursing Care
 1986- Auger and Dee
 Patient Classification Instrument (PCI)
 1983- Lovejoy
 Johnson Model First-Level Family Assessment Tool (JFFA-J)
 1983- Derdiarian
 Derdiarian Behavioral Systems Model (DBSM)
 1991- Derdiarian
 DBSM Self-Report Instrument for patients
 DBSM-O Observation
Research
 Bruce, G. L., Hinds, P., Hudak, J., Mucha, A., Taylor, M. C., & Thompson, C. R.
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(1980). Implementation of ANA’s quality assurance program for
clients with end-stage renal disease, Advances in Nursing Science, 2(2), 79-95.
Coward, D. D., & Wilkie, D. (2000). Metastatic bone pain: Meanings associated
with self-report and self-management decision making. Cancer
Nursing: An International Journal for Cancer Care, 23(2), 101-108.
Dee, V., & Randell, B. (1989). NPH patient classification system theory-based
nursing practice model for staffing nursing department. UCLA
Neuropsychiatnc Institute and Hospital, Los Angeles.
Derdiarian, A. K. (1990). Effects of using systematic assessment instruments on
patient and nurse satisfaction with nursing care. Oncology Nursing
Forum, 17(1), 95-101.
Derdiarian, A.K., & Forsythe, A. B. (1983). An instrument for theory and
research development using the behavioral systems model for nursing: The
cancer patient. Nursing Research, 32(5), 260-266.
Research
 Derdiarian, A. K., & Schobel, D. (1990). Comprehensive assessment of AIDS
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patients using the behavioural systems model for nursing practice
instrument. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 15, 436-446.
Fruehwirth, S.E.S. (1989). An application of the Johnson’s behavioral model: A
case study. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 6(2), 61-71.
Holaday, B. (1981). Maternal response to their chronically ill infants
attachment behavior of crying. Nursing Research, 30(6), 343-347.
Lovejoy, N. (1983). The leukemic child’s perceptions of family behaviors.
Oncology Nursing Forum, 10(4), 20-25.
Majesky, S. J., Brester, M. H., & Nishio, K. T. (1978). Development of a research
tool: Patient indicators of nursing care. Nursing Research, 27(6),
365-371.
Moeller, K., Murvine, S., & Began, C. (2007). Utilizing a scenic curtain to
decrease the patient’s anxiety and anger during initial chemotherapy
treatment.
Theory Critique
Cons
 Focused on hospitalized
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and ill stricken patient
Health promotion and
patient education
Failure to incorporate the
nursing process
Limited publication
Difficult to use in high
level research
Undefined outcomes
Pros
 Values/Ethics
 Concepts are interrelated
 Assumptions are
descriptive
 Simple
 Very little “new language”
 Significant impact of
nursing
References
 Dorothy Johnson Nursing Theory Website. (n.d).
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http://dorothyjohnson.wetpaint.com/
Johnson, D. E. (1961, November). The significance of nursing care. The
American Journal of Nursing Care, 61(11), 63-66. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3418646
Johnson, D. (1980). The behavioral system model for nursing. In J.P. Riehl &
C.Roy (eds.), Conceptual models for nursing practice (2nd ed.). New
York: Appleton-Century-Crofts. Lobo, M.L. (1995).
Johnson’s Behaviour System Model. (n.d.). Retrieved October 07, 2011, from
http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/behavioural_system_model.html
Parker, M. E. (Ed.). (1990). The behavioral system model for nursing. Nursing
theories in practice (Illistrated ed., pp. 23-46). [Reader version]. Retrieved
from http://books.google.com
Vanderbilt University. (n.d). Dorothy E. Johnson BSN, MPH (1919-1999).
Retrieved October 12, 2011, from http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu