Social defeat stress is a social stress method based on the subordination relationship between species. It leads to depression-like and other behavioral changes through frustrating behaviors between individuals of the same animal or different strains. Currently, few studies examine anti-social defeat drugs and the existing animal models have certain shortcomings and there is no uniform standard. This article reviews recent research on the application of social defeat animal models and their pathogenesis and provides a reference animal model for the development of anti-social defeat drugs.