untitled

Each subsystem has functions that serve to meet
the conceptual goal. Functional behaviors are those
activities carried out to meet these goals. These be-
haviors may vary with each individual, depending
on the person’s age, sex, motives, cultural values,
social norms, and self-concepts. In order for the
subsystem goals to be accomplished, behavioral
system structural components must meet func-
tional requirements of the behavioral system.
Each subsystem is composed of at least four

structural components that interact in a specific

pattern. These parts are goal, set, choice, and ac-

tion. The goal of a subsystem is defined as the de-

sired result or consequence of the behavior. The

basis for the goal is a universal drive whose exist-

ence can be supported by scientific research. In

general, the drive of each subsystem is the same for

all people, but there are variations among individ-

uals (and within individuals over time) in the spe-

cific objects or events that are drive-fulfilling, in the

84 SECTION II Evolution of Nursing Theory: Essential Influences

Table 8-1 The Subsystems of Behavior– (Continued)

ELIMINATIVE SUBSYSTEM

Goal To expel biological wastes; to externalize the internal biological environment

Function To recognize and interpret input from the biological system that signals readiness for waste excretion

To maintain physiological homeostasis through excretion

To adjust to alterations in biological capabilities related to waste excretion while maintaining a sense of

control over waste excretion

To relieve feelings of tension in the self

To express one’s feelings, emotions, and ideas verbally or nonverbally

INGESTIVE SUBSYSTEM

Goal To take in needed resources from the environment to maintain the integrity of the organism or to

achieve a state of pleasure; to internalize the external environment

Function To sustain life through nutritive intake

To alter ineffective patterns of nutritive intake

To relieve pain or other psychophysiological subsystems

To obtain knowledge or information useful to the self

To obtain physical and/or emotional pleasure from intake of nutritive or nonnutritive substances

RESTORATIVE SUBSYSTEM

Goal To relieve fatigue and/or achieve a state of equilibrium by reestablishing or replenishing the energy

distribution among the other subsystems; to redistribute energy

Function To maintain and/or return to physiological homeostasis

To produce relaxation of the self system

SEXUAL SUBSYSTEM

Goal To procreate, to gratify or attract; to fulfill expectations associated with one’s sex; to care for others and

to be cared about by them

Function To develop a self-concept or self-identity based on gender

To project an image of oneself as a sexual being

To recognize and interpret biological system input related to sexual gratification and/or procreation

To establish meaningful relationships in which sexual gratification and/or procreation may be obtained

Source:Based on J. Grubbs (1980). An interpretation of the Johnson behavioral system model. In J. P. Riehl & C. Roy (Eds.),

Conceptual models for nursing practice(2nd ed., pp. 217–254). New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts; D. E. Johnson (1980). The be-

havioral system model for nursing. In J. P. Riehl & C. Roy (Eds.),Conceptual models for nursing practice(2nd ed., pp. 207–216).

New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts; D. Wilkie (1987).Operationalization of the JBSM.Unpublished paper. University of California,

San Francisco; and B. Holaday (1972).Operationalization of the JBSM.Unpublished paper. University of California, Los Angeles.