The classification of behaviour has historically been done using one of the two approaches, either through the hypothetical causes (such as ‘instincts’, ‘drives’ and ‘needs’) or through the cataloguing of the observable form of behaviour using an ethogram. This article offers an alternative framework for classification of behaviour based upon only the behavioural outcomes. The framework is specified from first principles of a state-space approach, allowing us to discuss intermediate outcomes that may have instrumental value. This approach could provide a firmer foundation to consider the hierarchical nature of goals and allows us to address both the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ questions within a single framework. This taxonomy is designed to complement rather than replace existing attempts; the classification of behaviour by outcome is orthogonal to questions of the mechanisms of decision making or of the implementation of actions. This article specifies nine basic classes of behaviour and provides precise definitions for each of these. We then develop a formal language for the description of observed activities, the representation of behavioural hierarchies and for the analysis of possibility sets for achieving future goals. We follow up with some critique and discussion of the problems such a framework poses.

历史上，行为的分类是使用两种方法之一完成的，要么通过假设的原因（例如“本能”、“驱动力”和“需要”），要么通过使用行为图对可观察的行为形式进行编目。本文提供了一种仅基于行为结果对行为进行分类的替代框架。该框架是根据状态空间方法的首要原则指定的，允许我们讨论可能具有工具价值的中间结果。这种方法可以为考虑目标的层次性质提供更坚实的基础，并使我们能够在单个框架内解决“如何”和“为什么”的问题。这种分类法旨在补充而不是取代现有的尝试；按结果对行为进行分类与决策机制或行动实施的问题是正交的。本文指定了九种基本的行为类，并为每类提供了精确的定义。然后，我们开发了一种正式语言，用于描述观察到的活动、行为层次的表示以及分析实现未来目标的可能性集。我们对这样一个框架所带来的问题进行了一些批评和讨论。行为层次的表示和用于实现未来目标的可能性集的分析。我们对这样一个框架所带来的问题进行了一些批评和讨论。行为层次的表示和用于实现未来目标的可能性集的分析。我们对这样一个框架所带来的问题进行了一些批评和讨论。