Agonistics—Rituals of Conflict

Abstract

"Agonistics" is a term used by ethologists to denote animal conflict behavior that is playful, symbolic, or ritualistic. The ethological literature shows a remarkable consensus about the social function of agonistic animal behav ior : it is political. Out of it come dominance/subordination patterns which constitute the complex authority and status structures of the group or pack. Through an intense agonistic phase, the young members discover, learn, and communicate their place in an ordered set of relationships. Such structures endure as the animals mature, accommodating themselves to the existing relationships and maintaining a set of behavior norms and culture patterns which perpetuate the group. Ritual action is the redressive, reconciling means of reaffirm ing loyalties, at times testing and changing them or offering new ones to replace the old, but is expressed in a muted display which changes attitudes and values without major and unlimited conflict, and without the necessity for total and simultaneous involvement by all members of the society. The potential for disruptive, revolutionary change by escalated violence and internal warfare is always present, unpredictable in its outcome, costly in its logistics, dangerous in the second ary conflicts which may be engendered; ritual controls and moderates these undesirable tendencies.