In this context, displays of submission signal to dominant individuals that subordinate group members are not a threat to their rank within the social hierarchy.
Three hundred million years ago proto-mammals individually competed for resources such as food, territory, and sexual partners.
[9] Within humans, the sense of group belonging has evolved to become fundamental to physical and mental health and security, having important implications for self-esteem and self-identity.
[10] Studies demonstrate that primates adhere two main forms of group living characterized by opposing interactional styles: agonic and hedonic.
[12] The agonic mode of interaction is typical of hierarchical societies, in which group members concentrate on defending against threats to status.
[1] Extensive observational evidence of reptiles and birds reveal that when they compete for breeding territory, individuals engage in a specific manner of interactional display, known as ritualistic agonistic behavior (RAB).
Thus, an accurate internal evaluative algorithm is crucial not only for evading or prolonging potentially fatal fights, but also for provoking winning situations which may improve one's social rank.
[10] Upon losing dominance, defeated individuals undergo a change in physical demeanor known as the yielding subroutine of RAB or the involuntary subordinate strategy (ISS).
[15] Given the proximity to and dependency on conspecifics, group-living animals are perpetually faced with blocked escape scenarios, as a flight response to in-group confrontation would result in both diminished breeding chances as well as heightened threat of predation.
Subordinate individuals are able to accomplish this through submissive involuntary body language, which can include screaming, sideways glances, the fear grin, lowering the eyes, crouching to appear smaller, etc.
This inhibitory process is characterized by the suppression of exploratory behavior and an inability to take initiative, both of which may be the consequences of attempts to avoid the aggressive attention of dominant individuals.
In submitting to dominant individuals and constraining their own reproductive and resource seeking behaviors, subordinates regulate levels of aggression within the group.
In building networks of alliances, individuals dedicate a lot of effort towards ensuring that one's self-presentation properly conforms to group mores and standards.
As a result, a great deal of social life entails the seeking group approval which acts to both confirm rank and impart a sense of belonging.
With elevated social status, leadership roles, and access to more resources, those with high SAHP benefit from increased evolutionary fitness.
On the other hand, individuals with low levels of SAHP tend to display the submissive behaviors characteristic of ISS such as inhibition, withdrawal, and lack of confidence.