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conflict behavior

behavior that results from experiencing two incompatible motivational states at the same time. It commonly occurs as a result of an approach–avoidance conflict, as when a hungry animal must leave shelter to feed in the presence of a predator (feeding vs. fear) or when a territorial male is in the presence of a potential mate (aggression vs. sex). Conflict behavior may be manifested in alternations of approach and retreat or in unrelated behavior (see displacement behavior).

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Psychology term of the day

March 17th 2025

dominance–subordination

dominance–subordination

a form of social relationship within groups with a leader or dominant member who has priority of access to resources over other, subordinate members of the community. Among nonhuman animals, dominance–subordination relationships are highly organized in troops of baboons, in which dominant males have more access to food resources and mates than do subordinate males and all males often appear to have dominance over females. In hyena groups, the relationship is reversed, with males subordinate to females.