A concept from zoology, largely associated with its most famous exponent, Konrad Lorenz.

Mammals are social animals, and as such engage in behaviors called "displays." Territorial and grooming displays are actions intended to bring about changes in the behaviors of other animals (typically, other members of the same species). Obviously, these behaviors must happen within line-of-site/earshot of the intended others. In humankind, territorial and grooming displays have merged into an odd beast called fashion, whereby clothing and hair styles constitute a social "stance" --think of peacocks or other bird feather-display rituals--that affect different actions in others (with nods to both Konrad Lorenz and Marshall McLuhan).

And much of our behavior, telling in this context, is postural, gestural and facially-expressive. These behaviors function to communicate with and alter the behavior of other social creatures.

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