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Severity of agonism of free‐ranging patas monkeys differs according to the composition of dyads
Author(s) -
Zucker Evan L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1994)20:4<315::aid-ab2480200405>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - agonistic behaviour , agonism , dyad , psychology , developmental psychology , aggression , politics , political science , law
Differences in the severity of behavior used in dyadic agonistic interactions of adult female and immature free‐ranging patas monkeys ( Erythrocebus patas ) were assessed. The behaviors exhibited were rank‐ordered according to severity. Analysis of data from 1,353 agonistic interactions indicated a significant difference in the severity of agonistic behaviors, based on the composition of the dyad. Interactions between two adult females contained the least severe agonism, whereas interactions between two immature monkeys contained the most severe agonistic behaviors. When adult females and immatures interacted agonistically, the severity of the behaviors emitted and received were related to the age of the immature monkey; the older the immature, the less severe were the agonistic behaviors. These results support the ideas that social stability mediates the severity of agonism, and that agonism serves a socializing function. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.