JBSM Theory

By Dorothy E. Johnson 1919 to 1999

• Presented By:
Nazia 1st Semester MS Nursing 2017-18
30 March 2017

Facilitated by Ms. Almas Ghaffar

• Associate Professor ,PNS LUMHS Jamshoro
Objectives:
At the end this presentation leaner will be able to,

 Enlighten the background of theorist

 Discuss Publication and research
 Explain the development of theory
 Illustrate the JBS Model
 Elaborate Meta-paradigm of theory
 Explore the application of theory in nursing
 Describe the critique, strength and limitation of
theory.
 Dorothy E. Johnson 1919 to 1999
• Dorothy E. Johnson was born on august 21, 1919, in
savannah, Georgia.
• She finished her associate of arts degree in 1938
from Armstrong Junior college in Savannah,
Georgia.
• 1942 BSN from Vanderbilt university in Nashville
Tennessee.
• 1948 MPH from Harvard university in Boston.
• She died in February 1999 at the age of 80.
 Experience
• Staff nurse at the Chatham Savannah Health Council
from 1943 to 1944.
• Instructor and assistant professor in pediatric
nursing at Vanderbilt university nursing school from
1949 until retirement in 1978.
• 1955 to 1956 pediatric nursing advisor assigned to
the Christian medical college school of nursing in
Vellore, south India.
• 1965 to 1967 chairperson on the committee of
California nurses association.
 Publication and research
• Four books and more than 30 articles in periodicals
and many reports, proceeding and monographs.
• first proposed her model of nursing care in 1968 as
fostering of “the efficient and effective behavioral
functioning in the patient to prevent illness".
• She also stated that nursing was “concerned with
man as an integrated whole and this is the specific
knowledge of order we require”.
• In 1980 conceptualization of “behavioral system of
model for nursing "where she explains her
definitions of the behavioral system model.
 DEVELOPMENT OF JBSM
• Philosophical idea INFLUENCES:
•  Florence Nightingale
Theory
 System theory
• Research
 Developmental theory
• Clinical background
• Thought FOUR STURCTURAL ELEMENTS:
• Discussion • Goal
• Writing • Set
• Choice of Behavior
• Behavior
 Continue…….

each subsystem has three

• Johnsons identify seven
functional requirements
subsystem of behavioral
system • “Protected”: from noxious
influences with which
system cannot cope”.
1. Attachment / affiliation • “nurtured” through the
2. Dependency input of appropriate
3. Ingestion supplies from the
4. Elimination environment.
5. Sexuality • “stimulated” for use to
6.Aggression enhance growth and
7. Achievement prevent stagnation.
 Continue………..

1. Attachment / affiliation : Social inclusion

intimacy and the formation and attachment of a
strong social bond.
2. Dependency: approval, attention or recognition
and physical assistance
3. Ingestion: the emphasis is on the meaning and
structures of the social events surrounding the
occasion when the food is eaten.
4. Elimination: human cultures have defined different
socially acceptable behaviors for excretion of waste
,but the existence of such a pattern remains
different from culture to Culture.
Continue…

5.Sexuality: both biological and social factor affect

the behavior in the sexual subsystem.
6.Aggression: it relates to the behaviors concerned
with protection and self preservation Johnson
views aggressive subsystem as one that generates
defensive response from the individual when life
or territory is being threatened.
7. Achievement: provokes behavior that attempt to
control the environment intellectual, physical,
creative, mechanical and social skills achievement
are some of the areas that Johnson recognizes.
 Assumptions

• Assumptions about system

• Assumptions about structure
• Assumptions about functions
Meta-Paradigms
 Person
• Johnson (1980) views human beings as having
two major systems: the biological system and the
behavioral system. It is the role of medicine to
focus on the biological system, where as
nursing’s focus is the behavioral system.
• A system of interdependent parts with pattern
repetitive, purposeful ways of behaving.
 Environment

It is also sources of sustenal imperative protection, nurturance,

and stimulation that are necessary for maintaining the
health.

When behavioral system imbalance occurs, need to become

temporary regulator of the environment and provide the
persons supply of functional requirement so person can
adopt to stressors.

Functional requirement needed vary by age, gender, culture

coping ability and severity of illness.
 Health
• Health is an elusive state that is determined by
psychological, social, biological, and
physiological factors.
• System balance and stability ,effective and
efficiency functioning
 Nursing
• An external regulatory force which acts to
preserve the organization and integration of the
patient’s behavior at an optimal level under
those conditions in which the behavior
constitutes a threat to physical or social health,
or in which illness is found.
An art and science nursing supplies external
assistance both before and during system
balance disturbance.
 Implication of theory in nursing
• Practice: Johnson does not use the term nursing
process. Assessment ,Disorders , treatment , and evaluation are
concepts referred to in a variety of Johnson`s works. For the
practitioner conceptual models provide a diagnostic and
treatment orientation , and thus are of considerable practical
importance. The Nursing process becomes applicable in the
behavioral system model when behavioral malfunction occurs.

• Education: Loveland and Wilkerson analyzed Johnson

theory and concluded that it has utility in nursing
education . A curriculum based on a person as a
behavioral system would have definite goals &
straight forward courseplanning.The model has been used in
practice and educational institution.
 Contiue……….

• Research: Johnson stated that nursing

research would need to identify and explain the
behavioral system disorders which arise
in connection with illness and develop the
rationale for the means of management. Nurse
researchers have demonstrated the use fullness
of Johnson's theory in clinical practice .most of
these studies have been conducted with
individuals with long-term illnesses, such as
urinary in continence, chronic pain, cancer,
aids and psychiatric illnesses.
 CRITIQUE
• Clarity: Johnson's theory is relatively simple in relation to the number of
concepts. a person is described as behavioral system composed of seven
subsystems. Nursing is an external regulatory force.

• Simplicity : The theory is potentially complex because there are a number of

possible interrelationships between and among the behavioral system, its
subsystems ,and the forces on them. At this point, only a few of the
potential relationships have been explored

• Generality: Johnson's theory is relatively unlimited when applied to sick

individuals, but it has not been used as much with well individuals or groups.
Johnson perceived a person as behavioral system comprised of seven subsystem.

• Importance: Johnson's model guides nursing practice, education, and research; generates
new ideas about nursing and differentiates nursing from other health professions. By focusing
on behavior rather than biology. Johnson's behavioral system model provides a conceptual
framework for nursing education, practice, and research.
 Strengths and weakness
Strengths:
A frame of reference for nurses concerned with specific client behaviors.

JB b model can be generalized across the lifespan and across cultures.

The theory serves as a tool or guide to motivate patient or the behavior during distress. Its scope
and uses was not limited only to the patient care in practice of nursing but it was also used by the
administrators and also in researches. .

This theory contributed very much in shaping the future of our profession and on how nursing
profession was viewed today.

Weaknesses:
Not clearly interrelate concepts of subsystems.

Lack of clear definitions for the interrelationships among and between the subsystems makes it
difficult to view the entire behavioral system as an entity.

The lack of clear interrelationships among the concepts creates difficulty in work.
 Limitations
• Johnson’s B S M is not flexible.
• The definition of concept is so abstract that they
are difficult to use.
• It is difficult to test by development of hypothesis.
• The focus of behavioral system makes it difficult
for nurses work with physical impaired individual
to use this theory.
• Focused in nursing care of hospitalized and ill, not
focused on health promotion or prevention
REFERENCES
Alligood M raile (2014), Nursing Theorist and
Their work (ed.8th ), U.S.,Elsevier Mosby.
• https://www.slideshare.net/cynthiabarrett319/d
orothy-johnson-ppt