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What is play fighting and what is it good for?
Sergio M Pellis1, Vivien C Pellis2
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. pellis@uleth.ca.
Learning & Behavior
|April 5, 2017
Summary
Play fighting, a common behavior in many species, involves reciprocal turn-taking that balances competition with cooperation. This interaction enhances psychological resilience and adaptability in young animals.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Comparative Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Play fighting is a widespread behavior across diverse taxa, including mammals and birds.
- It involves competitive yet cooperative interactions, simulating various behaviors like serious fighting, social grooming, or predation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the unifying role of reciprocity and cooperation in play fighting.
- To investigate how play fighting contributes to the development of psychological resilience and executive functions.
Main Methods:
- Observational studies of animal behavior across different species.
- Analysis of the interplay between competition and cooperation in play fighting contexts.
- Examination of the developmental impact of play fighting on cognitive functions.
Main Results:
- Play fighting universally incorporates reciprocity or turn-taking, moderating competition with cooperation.
- The necessity of monitoring actions and partners' behavior during play is a key feature.
- This process is linked to enhanced psychological resilience and the development of executive functions.
Conclusions:
- Play fighting serves as a crucial developmental training ground for psychological resilience.
- The cognitive demands of moderated competition foster adaptable adult behaviors through executive function development.