Kneeling

A boy kneeling in the courtyard of the Great Umayyed Mosque in Syria

Kneeling is a basic human position where one or both knees touch the ground. According to Merriam-Webster, kneeling is defined as "to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor".[1] Kneeling with only one knee, and not both, is called genuflection.

Kneeling is a primate behavior used to convey deference by making the figure that is kneeling appear smaller than the other.[2] Primates themselves establish a dominance hierarchy (or "pecking order") which is important to the survival and behavior of the group.[3] Chimpanzees, for example, have a complex social group that involves a dominant male and a corresponding female, to whom the other males and the juvenile chimps are submissive.[4] Males who threaten the hierarchy are often severely injured or killed;[3] in some instances, the use of submissive behavior is necessary to ensure survival.

  1. ^ "Definition of KNEEL". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "The ABC of Chimpanzee Behavior". lessonsforhope.org. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Human Origins - Primate Behavior". Quizlet. March 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "Chimpanzee Society | Chimpanzees | Project R&R". releasechimps.org. Retrieved February 17, 2023.