Coping and coping strategies: a behavioural view

Abstract

Coping behaviour is a response to aversive situations. Farm and laboratory animals kept in intensive housing systems use a set of strategies (escape, remove, search, wait) to cope with aversive situations. It is suggested that these strategies have been shaped by evolution as adaptations to fitness-threatening situations with which animals are confronted in their natural environment. In intensive housing systems, however, the animals often fail to change aversive situations by using these evolved coping strategies, and it is argued that abnormal behaviour can originate from unsuccessful coping behaviour. With respect to animal welfare, it is important to design housing systems that allow the animals to perform effective coping behaviour.