“Human beings, viewed as behaving systems, are quite simple. The apparent complexity of our behavior over time is largely a reflection of the complexity of the environment in which we find ourselves”
— Herbert Simon
Simplified Meaning:
People often think that human behavior is very complicated, but when you look closely, it's usually the situations we're in that make us seem complex. For example, think about someone who is calm at work but stressed at home. They are the same person, but their different environments lead to different behaviors. When faced with a tough situation, like a surprise test in school, you might get nervous and act differently than in a more relaxed scenario, such as a weekend at home. How we act depends a lot on what's happening around us. If your surroundings are busy and chaotic, you might feel stressed and act more frantically compared to when you are in a peaceful place. Understanding this can help you react better to various situations. Instead of seeing yourself or others as unpredictable, recognize the impact of the environment and try to manage it or adapt to it to improve your behavior. For example, if you feel stressed at work, arranging your workspace neatly might help calm your mind.