Which of the following sequences are listed as displacement behaviors?

• A. Yawning, lip licking, scratching
• B. Barking, growling, whining
• C. Wagging tail, jumping, spinning
• D. Sniffing, licking lips, tail tuck

Answer: (A)

Displacement behaviors are self-directed, non-goal-oriented actions dogs use to manage momentary conflict or stress in a social situation. Yawning, lip licking, and scratching fit this pattern because they tend to occur when a dog is feeling uncertain or overwhelmed and is trying to calm itself rather than directly addressing the other animal or the environment. They are simple, repetitive actions that help reduce arousal in the moment, acting as a sort of self-soothing mechanism.

The other sequences involve behaviors that are more clearly communicative or driven by arousal in a direct way. Barking, growling, and whining are vocal signals aimed at conveying a message or asserting distance or threat. Wagging a tail, jumping, and spinning reflect excitement or play rather than a self-soothing response to stress. The combination of sniffing, licking lips, and tail tuck mixes normal investigative behavior and a fear cue, but it isn’t the classic set of displacement behaviors used to illustrate this concept.