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).

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

May 10th 2024

adaptometer

n. an instrument used to measure the time taken to adapt to a given amount of light, used in the diagnosis of night blindness and other visual disorders.