Why We Behave

About the Book

The book examines and explains the biological basis of behavior. It attempts to join applied behavior analysis with sociobiology and attempts to develop a behavioral sociobiological view of behavior. In short, it presents an experiential model based on research in the fields of biology, neurology, and brain science. Once the model is introduced, the book explains the practical use of this information and its role in intervention approaches, particularly in the developmentally disabled population. This approached is then widened into a discussion for the search for truth, balance, and practical applications in everyday life.

About the Author

Dr. Cayem was trained in behaviorism in the animal labs of CSULA in the early seventies. During his under-graduate years, he worked with hyperactive, aphasic children between 4 and 6 years of age in an experimental program at CSULA called the Severe Language Developmental Aphasia (SLDA) program. After earning his BA and MS degrees there, he went on to teach severely handicapped children while earning a Ph.D. in behavioral science at United States International University, now Alliant International University. His published dissertation was on training care takers to use Applied Behavior Analysis with severe behavior problem developmentally disabled children. After earning his doctoral degree, Dr. Cayem started Independent Consulting Services, a consulting firm that caters to people caring for developmentally disabled or autistic children and adults, and is currently its Director. Dr. Cayem then earned a post doctoral Masters of Science degree in psychopharmacology from the California School of Professional Psychology, now also Alliant University,to better serve this population which is often on psychotropic medications. Although the current work was written with people in the industry in mind, meaning people that care for developmentally disabled, autistic, or handicapped individuals and must deal with their behavioral issues, it is not intended to be narrowly focused on the “business” but rather on the nature of behavior itself. Thus anyone can find relevance in this work since all of us have to behave.