Actions studied by ethologists that appear out of context or irrelevant to the situation, such as scratching movements or self-grooming behavior during anxiety, conflict, embarrassment, frustration or stress. Sometimes interpreted as a defence mechanism, involving motivational disinhibition, and in non-humans as an instinct. In contrast to displacement activity, there is redirected activity: actions directed away from the main target and to another less appropriate target, and thus unlike displacement is a substitution in the kind of interrupted action. <\/p>\n
See Action<\/a>, Ethology<\/a>, Instinct (1)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/body><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Actions studied by ethologists that appear out of context or irrelevant to the situation, such as scratching movements or self-grooming behavior during anxiety, conflict, embarrassment, frustration or stress. Sometimes interpreted as a defence mechanism, involving motivational disinhibition, and in non-humans as an instinct. In contrast to displacement activity, there is redirected activity: actions directed away from … <\/p>\n