Gesture of humility
As humility gesture or gesture of humility is a technical term of the instinct theory of the classical comparative behavioral research (ethology) worked out mainly by Konrad Lorenz and Nikolaas Tinbergen . It describes a species-typical, innate behavior pattern ( appeasement gesture ) in socially living animal species , which signals submission to a higher-ranking opponent within a hierarchy . Through this expressive behavior, disputes about the hierarchy can be avoided from the outset via innate trigger mechanisms , since the individual who shows the humility gesture hereby recognizes the position of the superior, so that a dispute becomes unnecessary. Conversely, the superior individual "understands" the signal from the opponent and behaves accordingly.
If it comes to a fight, the inferior animal can signal the admission of defeat to the superior animal with a gesture of humility during the fight. Such a gesture can have such a strong anti-aggressive effect that the fight is broken off and the defeated animal is spared from possible further injuries.
The behaviors interpreted by ethologists as signs of appeasement in the context of instinct theory also include all behaviors through which intraspecific aggression can be avoided. Appeasement gestures thus signal “peacefulness”. Behaviors classified in this way can for example be observed during the "greeting" of group members meeting each other or between the two partners of a couple. You do the opposite of display behavior and threatening behavior are interpreted.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ This definition follows Klaus Immelmann : Grzimeks Tierleben , special volume behavior research. Kindler Verlag, Zurich 1974, p. 624 f.
- ^ Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt : love and hate. On the natural history of elementary behavior. Piper, Munich 1970. ISBN 3-492-20113-X