Dictionary of Biological Psychology
In biological psychology, conflict generally refers not to AGGRESSION between individuals or groups but to inner struggles. In ETHOLOGY, three types of conflict are identified: approach-approach, when an organism has desires to approach two positive reinforcers simultaneously (see POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT); avoidance-avoidance, with two stimuli equally to be avoided; and approach-avoidance, in which an organism has competing desires to approach and avoid a particular stimulus.
Approach-avoidance conflict is the most common, frequently appearing in situations involving courtship. Conflict is often a cause of displacement behaviour, when species typical behaviours will appear out of context. These are assumed to be the product of heightened DRIVE or MOTIVATION triggered by a specific STIMULUS but which cannot be satisfied. (SCHEDULE-INDUCED POLYDIPSIA is thought to be a laboratory analogue of this.) A CONFLICT TEST test is often used in laboratories in ANIMAL MODELS OF ANXIETY.
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