Grouping Behaviors

There's no right way to group the behaviors in the species ethogram. However, for a particular research question, there definitely are right and wrong ways of grouping behaviors. For instance, for a general overview, or time budget, the circadian organization used in the species ethogram is most appropriate; while if we were assaying social behavior, it would make more sense to place group sleeping in a category of social behaviors contrasted against individual behaviors. This page collects together other ways of grouping behaviors that may be more useful to your particular research question.

Individual behaviors versus Social behaviors

Dominance versus Territoriality (see also Agonistic Interactions)

Mediated aggression versus Escalated aggression

Normal behaviors versus Abnormal behaviors

Maladaptive behaviors versus Malfunctional behaviors

Appetitive versus Consummatory behaviors