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The Noyau and Territorial Aggression

…The What?

The word “noyau” may be as unfamiliar to you now as it was to me a mere six months ago, but once we understand the word and its wider meaning, we begin to recognize its explanatory importance in both global/local matters and in conflict resolution. Before we get to the definition of the concept, let’s first ponder this quote (keep this in the back of your mind as you read through this article):

Antagonism must have some value to living things: why otherwise would evolution have tolerated so much of it?

The Territorial Imperative

In 1944 a German ornithologist by the name of Dieter Burckhardt offered up the observation that each species of bird seemed to have an “individual distance.” That is, a territorial divide within a larger shared territory.

A beach seemingly crowded willy-nilly with swarming emperor penguins is actually adhering to species-specific rules regarding nest positioning and the permitted distance between individuals; what appears to the human eye as nothing more than crowded chaos actually follows a set of unwritten rules that direct avian society.

“Individual distances” vary from species to species, from tight quarters for some nesting shore birds to miles between for nesting/hunting territories for birds of prey.

Let’s also observe that it is not only birds that obey the “individual distance” rule. We see reptiles, amphibians, and, of course, mammals all staking out nesting and territorial distances, and what is intriguing about all of these is that each individual species seems to have an upper limit of toleration. Meaning that specific distances between nests/dens/homes must be observed and…there is also an upper limit as to how many of the same species will be permitted within a given hunting range.

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Emperor Penguins

For emperor penguins, there is an instinctually defined distance between nests, but there is also a somewhat static limit as to how many emperor penguins overall will be tolerated on a given beach.

The permitted/allowable/tolerated load of species in a given range is the noyau. It can be loosely defined in human terms as a neighborhood. Once this upper-limit has been defined, a curious thing occurs. Within the noyau we may witness numerous individual spats and territorial signaling. While these can take on an aggressive tone at times, they are for mostly non-violent– more noise than actual physical encounter.

Now, let’s say members from another noyau (we’ll stay consistent and say visiting emperor penguins from the other side of the island) arrive and attempt to stake out nesting sites on this beach, something mighty interesting occurs. Even if the out-noyau penguins obey proper nesting distance rules, they are subject to aggressive confrontation by the original noyau birds. These confrontations can turn physical and we often see birds that had spatted within the noyau (and they very well may do so again tomorrow) join forces to expel this “threat” to the noyau.

Mighty familiar, huh?

Humans, being animals with our own complex noyaus, seem subject to similar population pressures. We can live peacefully in neighborhoods, but allow one neighbor to start parking his car in our spot, or to let his grass grow too high, or some other such thing that seems trivial to an outsider, and it is taken very seriously by those inside the noyau, similarly to how penguins take nesting distances seriously.

Just as with the penguins, these petty slights seldom turn violent within the neighborhood, but neither do they go unnoticed and rarely do they go without remark. Penguins squawk, humans bitch and litigate.

Neighborhood Dynamics

Now, for a thought experiment, let’s picture a neighborhood with all of its concomitant petty gossip, tiny “They leave their Christmas lights up too long” beeves, and picture another neighborhood two blocks away. For some reason they decide to show up in the original neighborhood to seize a portion of the playground.

Once this happens, just as with the penguin noyau, humans in the “invaded” neighborhood shed the petty grievances and unite as a veritable unit to repel the invaders, whether it be with physical action or community petitions and appearances at the local city council meeting.

In a nutshell, the noyau concept states that within a noyau, individual species will be subject to petty aggressive acts that are rarely more than territorial signaling. But anything outside of the noyau that threatens the whole of the noyau is a spur to form a unified front.

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After The Threat

Terrible events like Pearl Harbor, 9/11, the Paris Attacks, and natural disasters make us all one. At least temporarily. Once the initial threat has been averted or placed in the rear view mirror of time, we separate into noyaus yet again and get back to passive-aggressive toleration of one another.

Let’s recall the opening observation from Robert Ardrey: “Antagonism must have some value to living things: why otherwise would evolution have tolerated so much of it?”

Chances are, this antagonistic streak in surviving species indicates that a certain amount of combativeness is necessary to protect the self, the brood, the noyau. In times of actual strife this penchant for aggression is a boon, but when times are easy—as it is for most of us 21st century pampered gods—this antagonistic streak does not bode well for good cheer and contentment.

If it is an instinctual part of our being it will never be quite tamed, nor would we want to tame it as it is a necessary spur to action when the chips are truly down.

Resisting Petty Antagonisms

I think we can all agree that petty antagonisms that intrude into daily lives (or “micro-aggressions”) that have no real world import do not add to the quality of life. We may never quite kick this superficial “Hey, I saw that parking spot first!” behavior to the curb as it is part of our make-up, but perhaps an awareness of why it’s there in the first place can allow us to stand down just a bit in some cases.

When we feel that twinge to bark over what is essentially a nothing “offense”, we might call to mind “Oh, I was getting ready to squawk loudly like a territorial penguin at someone I consider to be an OK human being for the most part. Perhaps I should take a breath here.”

Our inborn antagonism is and was meant for actual threats and not to continually intrude into daily bland life, but it does. Knowledge of how the noyau works can also allow us to reason through how some real world confrontations might go down.

The Noyau Bolsters Defenses

Animals that defend their noyau almost invariably fight more aggressively and successfully than invaders. This biological observation is important. It’s easy to imagine that we would fight harder to repel an invasion on our shores than one across the pond. Food for foreign policy thought.

The more distant from the noyau a species travels, the less investment we see. If I were a penguin (or a human) I would fight hard to protect my nest and I would come to the aid of my neighbor and fight hard (but perhaps without the same investment as for my own nest) to help him defend his nest, but the guy’s nest who lives in Saskatchewan, well, he’s on his own. Sorry, Saskatchewan guy.

The noyau concept says we will defend our own nest to the utmost of our ability. It also says that we might be full of petty gripes about those in our noyau but when the chips are down we will unite to repel a threat.

It also suggests that if we are the aggressor for some reason, the further we can lure the target from their home territory, the less defensive-alacrity we may see in the confrontation.

Tangible VS Abstract Noyaus

The problem with humans is that we also allow abstract ideas to become noyaus. Some of us will defend the home and an abstract noun with the same fervor — it all depends on how much we have allowed the idea/ideal to become a part of our “identities.”

In the concrete world such things as “honor”, “patriotism”, “the best chili ever!” simply do not exist except as constructs in our minds. And yet, these concepts and many other non-concrete “things” do settle into human skulls and can raise ire as much as an actual brick through a front window.

With the human penchant for creating noyaus out of abstracts in mind, it is wise for the individual who is interested in self-protection to be aware that the same proximity calibration takes place in the abstract world as in the physical. The closer we come to invading/encroaching on the abstract noyau the more resistance we can expect to encounter.

I may simply decide to make no comment on your prized “Star Wars” t-shirt, or offer a low-key “It’s not my thing, glad you like it”, and so far so good. But if I trip into “That shirt looks like s### and Star Wars is for losers” well, then it just might be on.

Final Thoughts

Penguins and humans, we’re not so different. We can’t consciously change our response to noyau encroachment, but with a bit of self-knowledge we might mitigate it when we are in meaningless spats and save up some of that survival energy for real-world threats, and at the very least get a handle on why this species can be so damn touchy at times.

The truth, it seems, is that we have evolved to be that way. A buncha crowded penguins on a noisy beach squatting over our nests for dear life.

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129 thoughts on “The Noyau and Territorial Aggression”

  3. Through patient observation Mr. Hatmaker has brought to light some very interesting ideas about animal and human behavior. As a combat veteran I sense in him the kind of warriors that I can respect. A human with the noble attributes of patience, empathy, and concern for his fellow beings.

    Reply

  4. Thanks heaps for such an awesome so true article.

    I have just printed it and stuck it on the car (a neighbors car that parks there because the birds at his house across the street shit on his car) that keeps on parking directly out the front of our house and I don’t really mind about, but have asked him if he could not park there on a Wednesday (today) as we (my wife and me) need that spot clear so I can easily get into our car for my weekly visit to the Doctors. I don’t plan on throwing a brick through his window. well not yet anyway.

    Richie.

    Reply

  5. Makes total sense to me when you break it down.
    Thanks for the read,will think of this when the little things that bug me in the noyau come up.
    Thomas
    Schenectady NY

    Reply

  6. Well said observations ! I have seen the human aspect many times after living in the different areas of Philadelphia and the contrast of living in the areas of the South.
    You do learn about what actions or “talk” is not tolerated.

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  7. Wow, I am so proud of you paying attention. You sprained my grinner when you offered the metaphor of a bunch of crowded penguins on a noisy beach. I have been on and near that beach, most of my life.grin I have always guarded and protected the other penguins,and my personal group, period. I am worn out from being surrounded by folks that are indeed enemies of my precious home. And broken hearted. I am desperate to hear and meet the folks that are crazy for this country/this life. I am not into isolated/separated noyaus, I want to grow and love you others. Blessings on you. John

    Reply

  10. Interesting read, I have read many similar articles on the subject, rarely in relation with human behaviour. Good job!!

    Reply

  13. Thank you for your insights, Mark – it is always illuminating to look at familiar concepts from another point of view. I will be thinking on this one for awhile.

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  14. It’s like when troops from the Army, Marines , Navy, and Air Force are all in a bar they will all fight each other, but the next day they will lay down their lives for each other fighting in a war.

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  15. Good to know. There is also the guppy experiment, in which two identical tanks were populated differently. One received one male, two females (normal mating for guppies in the wild). The other received six males and 12 females. After six months there were one male, two females in each tank.

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  18. A thought provoking article with real insight into the “Territorial Imperative” from a individual and group (Social) perspective. When one thinks about these instinctual survival responses, as we humans now apply them to NON-survival interactions like the open parking space “swooper” who swoops in and “steals” OUR space, (it is MINE because I saw it FIRST and was heading into it like a gentleman!!) whereupon we blow our horn, present the single digit invitation to a close social encounter and loudly display our vocabulary of profane adjectives! Let us not forget the driving trend of the new century….ROAD RAGE over any perceived error or discourteous driving action, whereupon one both drivers regress to two Brahma Bulls battling over a willing cow!
    We seem to be evolving, as we should, yet we also seem to be getting more violent, and prone to over react to whatever we perceive as a slight to us or our self defined noyaus! Time for our “evolved” thought processes to to take control over our instinctual aggressiveness and reserve that 200 Proof, undiluted aggressive power for those true existential threats to us and our loved ones!

    Reply

  20. First of all, thank you for that article. The point was made much more eloquently than I’ve ever been able to do.
    I’ve always believed we can learn a lot about ourselves by studying nature and all her creatures.

    Reply

  25. Great article and it reminded me of a neighbor (A) that wanted to cut his next door neighbors (B) tree limbs from over his yard so he would not have to rake leaves. He asked to come into B’s yard to do this and was firmly denied. A then got some friends and some ladders and proceeded to lean long ladders into the tree from his yard and cut any branches on his side of the yard back to the tree trunk. (by the way the tree was 5 feet from the fence in B’s yard)
    This is one lop sided tree now, and litigation is under way. Leaves also blow into his A’s yard anyway.
    Much (Noyau) heat from the neighbors all around A & B too.

    Reply

  28. Well thought out article thay really puts things into perspective. Very good read and is not only thought provoking but can keep one’s aggressive nature under better control when applied. Seriously, should I cause blood to be shed simply because a guy whistled at my eoman? Taking it as a compliment (she’s mine) would be the more appropriate response and just move on.
    Very good article that could keep many of us out of jail for assault. Choose your battles wisely is a quote very applicable to this article but the author does an excellent job of explaining why we have these aggressive feelings at times.
    Well done!

    Reply

  29. Terrific insight. Good food for thought. Puts things in perspective. I’ve always said you have to pick and choose your battles.

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  31. Very good game info. We are all protecting our nest. Home,city,state,USA,world. Veterans understand the concept. Politicians do not. Who will protect you&stour nest. It MUST be you. God bless us all.

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  33. Very interesting article. I used to work for Goodwill and we had a number of mentally challenged folks in our sheltered workshop. Those who came to us daily from the State School, all arrived with identical lunches in brown paper bags with the individual’s name written on it in pencil. I saw several fights start over 1 person accidentally taking another person’s bag (remember they all knew the contents were identical). I also saw fistfights break out aboard Navy ships when 1 person sat on another’s rack (his bed) without permission. So, it seems that there is a corollary to Ardrey’s law that says, “The less you HAVE that you can call your own (essentially your territory), the harder and more quickly you will fight to defend it.”

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  39. Good article, explains some of the things we endure. However, my neighbors must consider the passing through druggies as part of our neighborhood, as they hide in fear, rather than join me in defending the area. Seems I am the only one who calls PD. Maybe I should print this and hand it out to the whole neighborhood….

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  41. Just a thought, but it would seem like a good idea to cultivate the noyau of the”local”group by setting up what you will and will not tolerate from the”outsiders”/others. This will enable faster response, and immediately effective “counter actions”. Also, if you are the one to establish these parameters, on a lower key approach of course, the noyau will instinctively look at you as a leader, provided that you do solve the “problems” that arise within the noyau by encouraging cooperative and beneficial solutions. “Do your homework first so that you have a solution at hand.” Words to the wise.

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  42. Interesting article. I have at times “squawked” about my neighbor and his visitors parking in front of my house. Not really a real world problem, but important to me. We are a territorial bunch, we humans. Any encroachment of any kind warrants a response. I’m sure we could learn something from mother nature. If we could apply these concepts to how we view and interact with the rest of the world-band together to repel stupid legislation. As a pack, we rule!

    Reply

  44. MARK HATMAKER IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL YOUR FIGHT FAST BLOGGERS (AS A RESULT, I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL OF HIS BOOKS AND VIDEOS – ALL EXCELLENT). HIS TOPICS ARE ALWAYS INTERESTING, PRACTICAL, AND WELL THOUGHT OUT. ALWAYS ON POINT FROM A SELF DEFENSE STANDPOINT. IN ADDITION, HE IS A JOY TO READ – THE MAN IS A TRUE WORDSMITH. HE DELIVERS HIS THOUGHTS WITH THE SAME CARE, ECONOMY, AND PRECISION AS HE APPLIES TO HIS FIGHTING TECHNIQUES.

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  45. Interesting take on “group nous”. I think the “disrespect” we feel at such small slights is due to the fear that we might reinforce an invaders’ small encroachments with active ignorance, thus leading to greater and more frequent encroachments. Good reminder to stand down when it is really not such a big deal.

    Reply

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  47. Our Human ability to take encroaching concepts and assign them equal power over our actions as the purely physical ones can get us into trouble. While this ability to make concepts into reality serves us well in many instances, it sure does lead to trouble when applied to perceived slights and insults.

    Reply

  48. A great perspective for humans, especially those of us who lack self-discipline, to contemplate before instigating and/or allowing a petty incident to spiral out of control. We must each do our small part to make this world a safer and better place.

    Reply

  49. Thanks Mark. It’s nice to know why we do stupid things. Things you’d think would be easy to change but it never does. Pretty cool.

    Reply
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