territoriality

1. the defense by a nonhuman animal of a specific geographic area (its primary territory) against intrusion from other members of the same species. Territory differs from home range in being an area that is actively defended and from personal space in being a geographic area. Territoriality is observed in a wide range of animals and is found most often where there are specific defensible resources, such as a concentration of food or shelter. It is maintained through singing in birds and through scent marking in many mammals (e.g., antelope, dogs), as well as by active patrolling of territory boundaries.

2. in humans, behavior associated with the need or ability to control and regulate access to a space, which reflects feelings of identity derived from use of and attachment to a familiar place. See also public territory.

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Psychology term of the day

May 2nd 2024

covenant marriage

a legal innovation in American marriage, first enacted in Louisiana in 1997 but not available in all states, in which heterosexual couples agree to participate in premarital counseling and to accept significantly more restricted grounds for divorce. Covenant marriage laws were designed to reduce the likelihood of divorce by strengthening marriages while making divorces more difficult to obtain. More symbolically, covenant marriage laws allow spouses to signal to each other and to their families and social networks that they view their marital vows as especially meaningful and permanent. Covenant marriage laws are usually written without regard to religion, but in practice, couples who choose a covenant marriage tend to be religious. Thus, although covenant marriage is associated with a lower risk of divorce, this may be attributable to the spouses’ religious beliefs and practices rather than to the covenant marriage per se.