Definitions for "Dominance hierarchy"
In animal behavior, the set of relationships within a group of animals, usually established and maintained by aggression, in which one individual has precedence over all others in eating, mating, and other activities.
A social order developed by animals that live in groups by which certain individuals are understood to have a certain status or rank, and this determines their access to resources and how they exert power over others.
a survival mechanism designed to prevent violent encounters that could lead to serious injury of one or both animals of the same species