Threat display is a type of display behaviour aiming at intimidation of a potential enemy. It may be directed at a rival of the same species (in tournament species), or at a potential threat from a different species. The competitive advantage of threat display lies in overstating one's aggressive potential and thus increasing the chances that the opponent chooses to flee (fight-or-flight response). The opposite strategy is submission, behaviour aiming at understating one's aggressive potential in order to dissuade the opponent from attacking.
Human threat display includes showing one's teeth (snarl, compare smile), inflating one's chest (and other stances enlarging one's silhouette from the point of view from the opponent) and making loud vocal calls (battle cry).
 human threat display (posing) |
 human threat display (snarling) |
 coordinated human threat display (Haka of the All Blacks) |
 professional wrestler Triple H combining various modes of human threat display: standing in an elevated position, facial expression, expanding of the chest, raising of the arms |
 two dogs showing threat display in playful mock combat. |
 A cat hissing and arching its back to make itself appear larger. |
See also
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