Editing On Aggression (section)

===Ritualization===
{{see|Ritualization}}

In the book, Lorenz describes the development of rituals among aggressive behaviors as beginning with a totally utilitarian action, but then [[evolution|evolving]] to more and more stylized actions, until finally, the action performed may be entirely symbolic and non-utilitarian, now fulfilling a function of communication. In Lorenz's words:

{{quote|Thus while the message of inciting [a particular aggressive behavior performed by the female of cooperating mated pairs] in [[ruddy shelduck]] and [[Egyptian geese]] could be expressed in the words 'Drive him off, thrash him!', in [[diving duck]]s [a related species in which this trait has been further ritualized] it simply means, 'I love you.' In several groups, midway between these two extremes, as for example in the [[gadwall]] and [[wigeon]], an intermediate meaning may be found, 'You are my hero. I rely on you.'<ref name="Lorenz2002">{{cite book|author=Konrad Lorenz|title=On Aggression|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rIVK7wuY3kIC&pg=PA61|year=2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-28320-5|pages=61–}}</ref>}}