Some remarks on behaviour in conflict situations, with special reference to Emberiza Spp

Summary

• 1.

  Conflict-situations are best described in terms of incompatibility between behaviour patterns (or components) that are simultaneously tending to occur. The incompatibility exists whatever the causation of the patterns in question. Conflict-situations giving intention movements of flight are taken as an example.

• 2.

  Sometimes two simultaneous tendencies can both be expressed in a single behaviour pattern or components such behaviour may be termed “compromise behaviour.” Four examples are given.

• 3.

  Some behaviour patterns that occur apparently irrelevantly, and so might be termed displacement activities, may be caused in the same way as in their normal functional occurrences. Cooling responses and certain other behaviour that is associated with fear in Emberiza spp. are discussed as possible esamples.