displacement activity

displacement activity
Animal Behav.
a behavior performed out of its usual context and apparently irrelevant to the prevailing situation, as eating when an unknown individual approaches, tending to occur when appropiate behaviors, as attacking or fleeing, are in conflict or obstructed.
[1945-50]

* * *

Performance by an animal of an act inappropriate for the stimulus or stimuli that evoked it.

It usually occurs when an animal is torn between two conflicting drives, such as fear and aggression. Displacement activities often consist of comfort movements (e.g., grooming, scratching).

* * *

      the performance by an animal of an act inappropriate for the stimulus or stimuli that evoked it. Displacement behaviour usually occurs when an animal is torn between two conflicting drives, such as fear and aggression. Displacement activities often consist of comfort movements, such as grooming, scratching, drinking, or eating. In courtship, for example, an individual afraid of its mate may, instead of fleeing or courting, stand still and feed or groom itself.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Displacement activity — A displacement activity is the result of two contradicting instincts in a particular situation. Birds, for example, may peck at grass when uncertain whether to attack or flee from an opponent; similarly, a human may scratch his or her head when… …   Wikipedia

  • displacement activity — UK / US noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms displacement activity : singular displacement activity plural displacement activities 1) something that you do in order to avoid dealing with an unpleasant situation 2) in biology and psychology,… …   English dictionary

  • displacement activity — noun see displacement …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • displacement activity — noun see displacement II …   Useful english dictionary

  • displacement activity — noun Psychology an irrelevant activity that arises unconsciously when a conflict between antagonistic urges cannot be resolved (e.g. head scratching when confused) …   English new terms dictionary

  • displacement activity — /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt ækˌtɪvəti/ (say dis playsmuhnt ak.tivuhtee) noun Psychology an activity, usually irrelevant to the situation, by which the focus in an area of psychological conflict can be transferred to something more acceptable to the ego …  

  • displacement activity — noun (C, U) technical something that is done in order to avoid doing something else that you do not want to think about …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Displacement (psychology) — In Freudian psychology, displacement (German Verschiebung, shift or move ) is an unconscious defense mechanism whereby the mind redirects effects from an object felt to be dangerous or unacceptable to an object felt to be safe or acceptable.[1]… …   Wikipedia

  • displacement — 1. Removal from the normal location or position. 2. The adding to a fluid (particularly a gas) in an open vessel one of greater density whereby the first is expelled. 3. In chemistry, a change in which one element, radical, or mole …   Medical dictionary

  • activity — /ak tiv i tee/, n., pl. activities. 1. the state or quality of being active: There was not much activity in the stock market today. He doesn t have enough physical activity in his life. 2. a specific deed, action, function, or sphere of action:… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”