Abstract
Instincts (innate actions), according to Lorenz (1935, 1952), are rigid and stereotypical, genetically determined and species-specific behaviour patterns. A releasing stimulus or stimulus configuration (‘releasing stimulus situation’) is required to elicit an innate behaviour sequence. If the naturally occurring releasing stimulus configuration remains absent, the threshold at which the releasing stimulus elicits the instinctive pattern is progressively lowered until the animal produces the innate behaviour spontaneously. The stimulus configuration that selectively activates an innate behaviour, or the ‘device’ that emits this stimulus configuration, is called ‘releaser’. The ‘releaser’ evokes an instinctive behaviour sequence via activation of an ‘innate releasing mechanism’, that is, the perceptual correlate of the releaser. Each releaser activates a specific ‘innate releasing mechanism’ in the recipient and, thereby, sets off the innate behaviour sequence (Lorenz, 1935, 1952).
Keywords
- Stimulus Configuration
- Affective Expression
- Appetitive Behaviour
- Intraspecific Aggression
- Expressive Movement
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2015 Ralf-Peter Behrendt
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Behrendt, RP. (2015). Affective Expressions. In: Narcissism and the Self. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137491480_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137491480_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-50448-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-49148-0
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social Sciences CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)