primary territory

1. a space controlled by and identified with the person or group who uses it exclusively and to whom it is essential, such as an apartment or house. Primary territory is similar to primary environment. Compare public territory; secondary territory. See also proxemics.

2. in animal behavior, a defended space. See territoriality.

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Psychology term of the day

December 20th 2024

adversarial system

the type of legal system, as in the United States, in which a dispute between opposing parties is heard before an independent trier of fact (i.e., a judge or jury). In many European countries, but not the United Kingdom, an inquisitorial system is used, in which the judge leads the investigation by interrogating the parties.