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Zoology Notes On – Aggressive Animal Behaviour – For W.B.C.S. Examination.
প্রাণী বিজ্ঞান – আগ্রাসী প্রাণী আচরণ – WBCS পরীক্ষা।
When we observe the world around us, we see so much violence. This violence is because of the aggressive behavior.Continue Reading Zoology Notes On – Aggressive Animal Behaviour – For W.B.C.S. Examination.
Various philosophers and psychologists have various opinions about the aggressive behavior of humans.
According to philosopher Thomas Hobbes, humans are certainly evil by nature and only the society has the ability to limit the aggressiveness of humans.
On the other hand philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that humans are very gentle by nature and that the aggressive behavior is imparted to the humans by the society.
Another well-known psychologist Sigmund Freud opined that humans have both “life instinct,” and “death instinct”. Life instinct is a desire to live and safe self and others whereas death instinct is a desire to ruin self and others.
Definition of Aggression
Aggression is the set of behaviors that not only result in harm to the environment and other animals but also to oneself. This can result in both physiological and physical damage to self and others. Aggressive behavior is violent and unpredictable.
- Aggression is a part of agonistic behavior that comprises of everything leading to resolution of conflict between individuals.
- It is used to adjust inter & intra specific conflicts. Conflict arises when two or more individual compete for same object like food, water & space etc.
- Aggression can take physical, verbal, mental and emotional forms.
- Aggression is expressed depending upon its intensity from mild to medium. Facial expression, choosing, grabbing, pushing and lastly fighting and biting are all different forms of aggression.
- Aggressive behavior is formed of 4 components namely, Agonistic (threat) ,Conflict (fight), Appeasement (submission), Escape (flee)
- Aggression is made up of complex responses of animal’s nervous & endocrine systems.
Conflict without weapons is not fatal & weakening but, in conflict with weapons individuals can kill each other. Aggressive behaviour is genetically controlled with high degree of heritability and adaptive value.
Purpose of Aggression
Aggressive individuals stand up for their rights and at the same time they ignore the rights of others. They may dominate and humiliate the feeling of others. Though this behaviour is expressive, it is also defensive, unfriendly and self-defeating in nature.
Aggression is influenced by internal and external stimuli, social circumstances, genetic factors, learning processes and frustrating memories.
The following are the purposes of Aggression,
- To express Possession
- To express Anger
- To show dominance
- To threaten
- To compete with others
- To respond to fear
- To show pain
Types of Aggression
The following are some of the types of Aggressions with examples:
Crowding aggression: Crowding aggression is also known as proximate aggression. It occurs when the animals group-up together to fight for something. For example, a stranger is not allowed into a mice colony. Also, female Iguanas assemble in hundreds of numbers and fight for sandy space between rocks to bury their eggs.
Territorial aggression: Space aggression is also known as territorial aggression. It includes the signals given by the animals to keep the intruders away from a territory. Most male animals signal other male intruders to keep them away from an area, but these males remain tolerant towards female intruders. For example, when a stranger enters an ant colony, other ants raise alarm through pheromone. African baboons fight for sleeping trees and Seals fight for rocky area.
Breeding aggression: Seasonal change aggression is also known as breeding aggression. This aggression is seasonal in nature and occurs during breeding season. Male animals threaten and attack competitor males during breeding season. It is interesting to note that male baboons threaten and employ young females to breed in their harems.
Animals like display their strength and weapons to show their aggression. For example Deer show antler, Tigers roar and show canine teeth, wolf hauls and show their full set of teeth.
Pain aggression: The aggressive behavior arising out of previous experience is called as pain aggression. Animals behave and become aggressive in response to pain and previous experiences. For example Dogs which are brought up singly become ferocious when scolded or chained. Painful experiences would make the dog more violent.
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