dominance displays
Shows of superiority
Dominance displays are behaviors animals use to assert rank or intimidate rivals without actual fighting—posturing, vocalizing, making themselves appear larger.
The term extends to human behavior: His constant interrupting was a dominance display.
Such displays signal status and discourage challenges, whether in a wolf pack or a boardroom.
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- top dogDominant leader
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
- submissionYielding to another's will
territory · marking territory · chest-puffing · standing tall · growling · staredown · size up · intimidation · show of force · swagger · hierarchy · pecking order · power move · threat · plumage · antlers · roar · bravado
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- male competitionfighting, mate guarding, aggression, sparring, charging
- mating traitssexual selection, courtship, plumage, antlers, ornamentation
- showing offboasting, bragged, show off, bragging, boasted
- pinnipedsseal, sea lion, sea lions, fur seal, fur seals
dominance displaysgroveling
Demeaning self-abasement before another
cowering · supplication · prostration · obeisance · bowing
dominance, displays, display, dominant, dominate, domination, dominator, domineer, domineering