# data[].attributes.body
They're many benefits of social behavior one of which, is discipline. All living things have to disciplined to complete the tasks given to them in order to live in a civilized society. Social Behavior helps promote emotional well being as well. Overall, social behavior gives organisms a better chance of survival and a more easier chance to reproduce.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Social behavior is defined as interactions among individuals, normally within the same species, that are usually beneficial to one or more of the individuals. It is believed that social behavior evolved because it was beneficial to those who engaged in it, which means that these individuals were more likely to survive and reproduce. Social behavior serves many purposes and is exhibited by an extraordinary wide variety of animals, including invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals. Thus, social behavior is not only displayed by animals possessing well-developed brains and nervous systems.

Benefits of Social Behavior

Social behavior seems to provide many benefits to those who practice it. Studies have shown that many animals are more successful in finding food if they search as a group. This is especially true if food resources are clumped together only in certain places. If more individuals are cooperating in the search, there is a greater chance one of them will find the clump of food. In some cases, foraging in a group makes it easier to capture a prey. Dolphins are known to surround a school of fish and to take turns darting into the center to eat the fish that are trapped in the middle. Many carnivores will band together when they try to capture large prey. For examples, wolves

will hunt together when hunting moose, and lions will hunt together when hunting large prey such as wildebeests. When these animals are hunting much smaller prey, they will often hunt singly.

Many animals live in social groups partly for protection. Although one baboon might not be able to fight off a leopard, a troop of baboons often is able to do so. In addition, with more individuals cooperating together, some can serve as sentries looking for danger while the other group members are eating or sleeping. Prairie dogs and large flocks of crows normally have some individuals acting as sentries, which makes it nearly impossible to sneak up on a prairie dog town or a flock of crows.

Many prey species, such as schools of fish and flocks of shorebirds, travel in groups in which their movements are highly coordinated. The entire group moves quickly, darting one way and then another as an entire group, as if they were all somehow physically connected with one another. It is believed this behavior creates confusion for the predator. Predators generally need to pick out a single individual in a group that they will focus on and try to capture. A rapidly moving and turning school of fish, flock of birds, or herd of antelope is believed to make it very difficult for the predator to remain focused on a single individual. However, if one individual is unable to keep up with the group, the predator will then be able to focus on it and usually will succeed in catching it.

Some animals form social groups to make travel easier. Canada geese and other bird species typically fly in a V formation. Just like bicyclists who ride behind one another in order to reduce wind resistance, the geese fly in formation to reduce the wind they must encounter. In this situation, the lead bird has the most tiring job, which is why several birds usually take turns leading the V. Some animals congregate in close proximity to one another in cold weather in an effort to stay warm. Small birds are sometimes known to huddle so closely they form a single large ball of birds.

Breeding Behavior

Sometimes social behavior is exhibited by groups of males or females during the breeding season. In some cases, males may band together and try to chase the dominant male away so they have a better chance of mating success. In other instances, males are known to cooperate in making their courtship displays. Turkeys often perform their courtship display in pairs, even though only one of the turkeys ends up doing most of the mating. Why would the unsuccessful male agree to help? The two male turkeys are usually brothers. Since brothers share about 50 percent of the same genes, even if only one brother mates, many of the genes of the unsuccessful brother are passed on too.

In some species, the females form social groups during the breeding season. In certain circumstances, females will look after one another's offspring while the other mother goes out to find food. In other species, such as lemurs, females may form social groups as a kind of defense. Males of some lemur species will try to kill the offspring of females that mated with another male. By banding together, the females are sometimes able to ward off the attacking male.

Many animals form social groups only during certain times of the year. Many bird species flock together in foraging groups in the winter. However, these same birds that sought one another out in the winter set up breeding territories in the spring and will go to great lengths to keep the same birds out of their territory. Thus, for many species, social behavior is a flexible form of animal behavior, one that can be adopted or abandoned depending on the conditions of the environment and the time of year.

Insect Societies

Some of the most well-developed social behavior is exhibited by insects such as ants, termites, bees, and wasps. Many of these species live in colonies with thousands or even millions of individuals. One benefit of social behavior for these insects is that different individuals specialize in certain activities. For example, some are the workers who build the colony and go out looking for food that they bring back. Other individuals are the soldiers of the colony. Their job is to continually patrol the colony perimeter and to protect the colony from possible attacks from other colonies. In many ant and bee colonies, all worker and soldier ants are females. Males are usually present in the colony, but do not contribute much. Finally, there is the queen ant

or bee. The queen's only job for her entire life is to lay eggs that the workers will care for.

There are substantial benefits to forming social groups and there are also some definite costs to living closely with others of the same species. First, one competes most with others that are most like oneself, and thus a member of a social group always has to share or compete with others for resources. Second, because of the numbers and close proximity of individuals in many social groups, disease may spread through social groups relatively rapidly.

Bibliography

Alcock, John. Animal Behavior, 3rd ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, 2001.

Wilson, E. O. Sociobiology, abridged ed. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1980.

The male bower bird, of the Australian rainforest, has long interested scientists with its unusual courting behavior. The bower constructs a sort of bachelor pad on the forest floor, a complex structure of twigs, leaves, and moss. Further decorating it with berries and shells and feathers, scientists believe that it is specifically designed to attract mates.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social behavior is defined as interactions among individuals, normally within the same species, that are usually beneficial to one or more of the individuals. It is believed that social behavior evolved because it was beneficial to those who engaged in it, which means that these individuals were more likely to survive and reproduce.

# data[].attributes.body
Dogs are able to somewhat tame their aggressiveness or wild side to an extent. Without this adaptation all dos would not be able to be house pets, they would all have to live as wolves in the wild. Dog owners ultimately have authority over their dog and training helps with this. However some medical conditions are the cause of aggression in dogs, having an injury or illness causing discomfort and stress leads to aggressive behavior as well.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the many attributes of aggression is language. For example, aggressiveness is a normal form of communication in dogs. Another form of language would be body language, such as, growling, barking, a hard stare or even biting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is aggression?

Aggression may be defined as any threat or harmful behavior directed toward another individual or group. It may be displayed as an intent to avoid the further escalation of conflict, as a method to displace another individual or group, or with the intent to cause physical or emotional harm to another individual.

Aggression in dogs commonly includes body language or threat displays such as a hard stare, growling, barking, snarling, lunging, snapping, and/or biting.

Aggression can be a normal form of communication in dogs, yet the display of aggression toward a person or animal is often considered undesirable or problematic.

Most canine aggression is affective or emotionally (fear and/or anxiety) motivated in the brain, yet predatory aggression is motivated by the appetite center of the brain. With predatory aggression, the animal is not afraid or anxious and aggression is displayed with the intent to decrease the distance and capture, kill, and consume prey.

What are the different kinds of aggression?

There are many different categories or types of canine aggression. Aggression may be categorized by the dog's motivation for aggressive behavior, the context in which the behavior occurs, or the intended target of aggression. Here are examples of some common types of aggression.

"There are many different categories or types of canine aggression."

Territorial Aggression. Aggression directed toward a person or animal that enters or approaches the dog's perceived territory, which is usually the owner's home or property.

Possessive Aggression. Aggression, sometimes called resource guarding, that is directed toward a person or animal when the dog feels threatened that the person or animal will take away valued resources, which are usually food or toys.

Maternal or Protective Aggression. Aggression directed toward a person or animal by typically a female dog protecting her offspring or puppies.

Pain-Related or Irritable Aggression. Aggression directed toward a person or animal which is motivated by pain or discomfort.

Predatory Aggression. Aggression directed toward typically another animal, yet occasionally a person, which is motivated by the desire to hunt, capture, kill, and consume species viewed as prey. Predatory aggression is typically silent or absent of vocalizations and the bite is often damaging or uninhibited.

Frustration or Redirected Aggression. Aggression incidental to another form of aggression or emotional arousal. It occurs when a dog cannot reach the target of its aggression or arousal and out of frustration changes its focus to another object, person, or other animal.

Social Conflict-Related Aggression. Aggression typically directed toward a familiar person or animal which is motivated by internal conflict and displayed in contexts of social interactions.

Sexual Aggression. Aggression directed toward another male or female dog associated with mating behavior, when male dogs compete for a female, or a female fights for access to a male.

Disease-Related Aggression. Aggression directed toward a person or animal may be associated with infectious or non-infectious disease.

Fear- or Anxiety-Related Aggression. Aggression directed toward a person or animal which is motivated by a dog that is feeling afraid, which may occur if approached, cornered or trapped, or if the animal is anxious about an uncertain or unpleasant outcome.

What are the manifestations of fear and/or anxiety related aggression?

Fear or anxiety related aggression is perhaps the most common form of aggression in dogs. In reality most types of aggression listed above, except for predatory and disease related aggression, likely have a fear or anxiety component. Fear- or anxiety-related aggression may be confusing as the dog might display defensive or offensive body language.

"Fear or anxiety related aggression is perhaps the most common form of aggression in dogs."

Early manifestations of fear related aggression are typically defensive, displayed to increase the distance between the perceived threat, or communicate 'stay away', yet aggression may become more offensive through learning. Aggression is offensive when displayed while closing the distance to the perceived threat. However, even though the displays of offensive or defensive aggression look different, fear and making the stimulus go away are still the primary motivation for the behavior.

Fear- and anxiety-related aggression are commonly manifested in the veterinary hospital or in situations of social approach and handling. Dogs that display aggression are not mean or bad dogs. They are simply afraid/fearful and anxious/nervous about a perceived or anticipated threat or unpleasant outcome.

Why does my dog display aggression?

Dogs may have inherited an instinct for fight or flight when faced with a threat. The display of aggression in dogs may be genetic (inherited from the dog's parents) or a breed specific behavior. Certain breeds of dog have been selected and used to guard livestock or alert to territorial threats. Different breeds of dog have been selected to display predatory behavior. The display of aggression may be learned from previous experiences because aggression may have been successful in avoiding or preventing an unpleasant outcome.

The most common presentation of aggression is fear or anxiety motivated.

Some aggression in dogs commonly present at a young age (the first 3 to 4 months of life), yet other types of aggression are more likely to occur during adolescence or social maturity. Aggression in young puppies is most often fear- or anxiety-related. Aggression presenting during adolescence or at social maturity may be sexual, social, or related to territorial threats (which incidentally has a fear component).

What are the warning signs of aggression?

The key to dealing with aggression is recognizing the warning signs that predict a bite might occur.

Aggression is often preceded by fear or conflict appeasing signals, sometimes called calming signals. These signals are offered as communication to diffuse social conflict. Body language that may be displayed in order of the escalation of aggression are the following:

Avoiding eye contact by squinting, turning the head, or body away from the threat

Yawning or licking of the lips

Pinning or flattening of the ears tightly to the head

Crouching, lowering the body, or tucking the tail under the body

Stiffening or freezing

Growl

Snap

Bite

Should I be concerned about the display of aggression by my dog?

Yes! Aggressive behavior in dogs poses a danger to humans or other animals, with physical injury probable. Aggression may be caused by infectious diseases such as rabies or non-infectious diseases typically affecting the nervous system. If a dog is displaying aggression, its health and/or emotional welfare are likely compromised. Displays of aggressive behavior should be discussed with your dog's veterinarian. The sooner treatment is sought, the best chance for improvement.

Is there treatment for aggression in dogs?

The treatment of aggression will depend on the cause of aggression. Aggression should first be discussed with your veterinarian regarding the most appropriate treatment. Your veterinarian may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

"The treatment of aggression will depend on the cause of aggression."

The treatment of aggression may be challenging. Aggressive behavior can often be reduced in frequency or intensity, but the display of aggressive behavior may not be 'cured'. The avoidance of situations that have induced aggression behavior should be encouraged, thereby avoiding the dog's exposure to situations, people, or animals that trigger aggression.

Aggression in dogs is often treated with medications used in combination with behavioral and environmental modification.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Aggression may be defined as any threat or harmful behavior directed toward another individual or group. Aggression in dogs commonly includes body language or threat displays such as a hard stare, growling, barking, snarling, lunging, snapping, and/or biting.