displacement behavior

a behavior in which an individual substitutes one type of action for another when the first action is unsuccessful or when two competing motivations are present that lead to incompatible actions. A gull at a territory boundary may direct attacklike actions toward the ground rather than its rival due to simultaneous aggressive and fearful responses to the opponent. A laboratory animal that is frustrated by servings of food that are small and delivered slowly may express displacement behavior by drinking instead of eating. Also called displacement activity.

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Psychology term of the day

February 11th 2025

clerical aptitude

1. the ability to learn specific skills required for office work, such as perceptual speed (e.g., comparing names or numbers), speed in typing, error location, and vocabulary.

2. the measure of individual abilities in the following areas: vocabulary (understanding words and ideas), arithmetic (handling figures easily and accurately), and checking (recognizing similarities and differences rapidly).