Appeasement, calming signals, and information capture: how do our subjects tell us what matters to them?

It has become increasingly common among dog people to talk of their dog ‘appeasing’ them. We more frequently hear descriptions of dog-dog behavior being couched in terms of who ‘appeased’ whom. “Appeasement” signals and behaviors have been said to advertise peaceful intentions, are generally regardless as those that inhibit, reduce or stop aggressive behavio r between those in some interaction through engagement in behaviors incompatible with the aggression and are thought to be found only when such information is contextually relevant (e.g., in animals and contexts where fighting may establish, even temporarily, a hierarchy, pecking order or other soci al rule that avoids injury or death) (Hasson, 2009).

Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - May 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Karen L. Overall Tags: Editorial Source Type: research