Mammals accept that individuals can have authority, resulting in different ranks {dominance hierarchy}|. Animals in groups have ranks or roles, relatively dominant or subordinate. Older males typically dominate.
authority
Different species use different authority symbols.
hierarchy
All societies have status hierarchies and/or resource controls.
change
Primates form alliances based on obligations and contact, to gain higher rank. Ranks are always shifting. Dominance fights are not deadly. Animals can try to act differently than rank. Others must catch and punish offenders. Animals can try to deceive, but only higher apes seem to try to make others' beliefs be wrong.
effects
Dominance hierarchy causes hostility to strangers, maintains peace in society, decreases new behaviors, and causes threats from younger males toward older males.
factors
Dominance behaviors increase at breeding times. Dominance behaviors increase at higher population densities.
Only humans laugh {laughter, human}, but other mammals appear happy.
4-Zoology-Kinds-Mammal-Placental
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Date Modified: 2022.0225