What is redirected aggression and how does it function in animal social systems?

Redirected aggression is the displacing of frustration or hostility onto a safer target than the actual source of that frustration. In animal social systems, it functions effectively when the target has no memory of being targeted, there are no social consequences from the original source, and the aggression dissipates the internal arousal state. This lack of accountability allows the system to manage aggression without escalating conflicts.