Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
15:01
Peering into the Dynamics of Social Interactions: Measuring Play Fighting in Rats
Published on: January 18, 2013
New (old) perspectives on self-injurious and aggressive biting.
Lindsay A Lloveras1, Crystal M Slanzi1, Timothy R Vollmer1
1Department of Psychology, University of Florida.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|May 2, 2022
Summary
Self-injurious and aggressive biting may be triggered by preceding events, potentially stemming from evolutionary roots. Further analysis is needed to understand the variables controlling biting behavior in various contexts.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Ethology
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Self-injurious behavior and aggression are often operant, meaning they are learned behaviors.
- A subset of biting behaviors may be controlled by antecedent events and have phylogenetic origins.
- There's a significant research gap concerning the basic science of biting behavior prior to 1977, with limited translation to behavior analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To revisit evidence suggesting that some self-injurious and aggressive biting is controlled by antecedent events.
- To highlight a research gap in the understanding and application of basic biting research.
- To call for further analysis of variables controlling biting behavior.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on self-injurious behavior, aggression, and biting.
- Analysis of evidence for antecedent control and phylogenetic origins of biting.
- Identification of a historical research gap in basic biting research.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a subset of self-injurious and aggressive biting may be primarily controlled by antecedent events.
- Phylogenetic origins may play a role in certain biting behaviors.
- A significant gap exists in the translation of basic biting research into behavior analysis.
Conclusions:
- Biting behavior in the presence of aversive events requires further investigation.
- Understanding antecedent variables is crucial for behavioral assessment and treatment of biting.
- Revisiting and applying historical research on biting could inform current practices.
Related Concept Videos
01:47Aggression
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...
02:04Bullying
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is bullying.
01:21Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
01:16Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
The oral stage is the initial phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, occurring from birth to approximately 12 to 18 months. During this period, the infant's mouth serves as the primary source of pleasure, with actions such as sucking, chewing, biting, and drinking playing a crucial role in reducing tension. These activities are essential not only for nourishment but also for the infant's psychological and emotional satisfaction.
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
01:28Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.