Ritualistic aggression/ Ritualistic signalling

• A ritual is a series of behaviours carried out in a set order
• Konrad Lorenz's early observations of fights between animals of the same species was how little actual physical damage was done
• Most aggressive encounters have periods of ritualistic signalling (EG displaying claws and facial expressions of threat) rarely reached the point of physical aggression
• Even if animals engage in physical aggression ,Lorenz states that intra-species conflicts end with ritual appeasement displays
• Appeasement is used by one of the animals show they are no longer a threat
• signal indicates acceptance of defeat and leads to a Reduction in the Victor's aggressive behaviour
• Eg wolves exposed their neck to aggressor making themselves vulnerable→ prevent further aggression
• Both ritualistic signalling and appeasement signals are adaptive as they stop every aggressive encounters from ending in death , threatening the existence of the species