Behavioural

Behavioural is an adjective in British English meaning related to behaviour, or the study of behaviour in humans and animals. The American variant is behavioral. The term appears across many disciplines to emphasize actions and decision making rather than solely internal states.

In psychology and related sciences, behavioural approaches examine how external stimuli, learning, and cognition shape observable actions. Behavioural psychology focuses on conditioning and response patterns; behavioural neuroscience links behavior to brain processes; behavioural genetics investigates genetic contributions to behavioural traits. In economics, behavioural economics analyzes how biases, routines, and social context influence choices, often deviating from models of perfect rationality. In biology and ecology, behavioural (or behavioral) biology studies animal behavior and its ecological and evolutionary significance.

Applied uses include collecting behavioural data (choices, movements, interactions), designing interventions, and informing policy and product design. Behavioural insights teams and nudging strategies aim to steer behavior in areas such as health, finance, and sustainability while respecting autonomy.

The term is used broadly and can refer to observable actions, patterns over time, or mechanisms underlying action. Spelling and conventions vary by region and discipline, but the core concept remains behavior as studied in social, biological, and applied contexts.