APA Dictionary of Psychology

the relationship between nonhuman animals that allows some individuals to have greater access to resources (e.g., food, shelter, mates) than others in the group. Dominance ranks are thought to be linear in some cases, with a clear ordering from most to least dominant (see pecking order), but may also be dependent (i.e., based on kin or age relationships) or governed by coalitions in which subordinate individuals acting together can outrank dominant ones. Although dominance is usually thought to be based on aggression, stable dominance relationships may be maintained through the use of animal vocalizations or visual communication, with minimal aggression.