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 they do not know which of two options to choose.

Displacement activities often involve actions to bring comfort such as scratching, drinking or feeding.

The first description of a displacement activity (though not the use of the term) is probably by Julian Huxley in 1914.^[1][2] The subsequent development of research on displacement activities was a direct consequence of Konrad Lorenz's works on instincts. However, the first mentions of the phenomenon came in 1940 by the two Dutch researchers Nikolaas Tinbergen and Adriaan Kortlandt.^[3]

See also

• Vacuum activity
• Displacement (psychology)
• Procrastination

References

1. ^ Huxley J. 1914. The courtship habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus); with an addition to the theory of sexual selection. Proc Zool Soc Lond 647-655.
2. ^ Huxley J. 1970. Memories. Allen & Unwin, London, p89-90.
3. ^ Displacement Activities and Arousal

External links

• Cats international about displacement activities with cats.

This ethology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Ethology Biology stubs Ethology stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Livonian Crusade Persin Look at other dictionaries: 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 — 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… …   Universalium 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 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”