behaviourure

Behaviourure is a proposed framework for describing how behavior is organized in individuals or systems. Drawing on ethology, psychology, and cognitive science, it treats behaviour as a repertoire—an array of actions that can be activated by cues, goals, internal states, and social context. The term is not universally defined and varies across sources.

Core ideas include repertoire size (the number of distinct behaviours), structure (how actions are related), context-sensitivity (cue-driven selection), and developmental change (learning and development) that modify the repertoire over time.

Measurement and modelling often rely on systematic observation and coding, transition matrices, Markov or state-based models, and simulations. Data may come from video coding, wearables, or self-reports, enabling assessment of organization, flexibility, and predictability of behaviours.

Applications are suggested in animal welfare, education, human–computer interaction and robotics, where understanding a behaviourure can inform training, interface design, and adaptive environments.

Critics argue that the term overlaps with established concepts such as behavioral repertoire and action selection and may lack standardized definitions. Proponents view it as a useful label for the structural and dynamic aspects of behavior beyond single actions.