Abnormal Behavior of Animals in Research Settings

Abstract

One of the significant challenges of maintaining animals in captivity is the development of abnormal behavior in some individuals. The presence of abnormal behavior is often construed as a marker for ill being, indicating some adverse exposure to psychosocial stress. Abnormal behavior is any pattern of activity that differs from some standard. The ethological standard focuses on species-typical behaviors that have been shaped by natural selection. Abnormal behavior patterns are classified into four broad categories: stereotypic behaviors, which include locomotor, mouth-directed, and body-directed activities; dangerous self-directed behaviors that can cause tissue damage; affective behaviors indicative of abnormal mood states; and displacement activities. An association between painful disorders and the development of abnormal behavior has been noted in some animals.