Connectedness within a captive group of rhesus macaques
Date
1974
Authors
MacGilchrist, John
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Abstract
The model of centripetal societies postulated by Chance and Jolly was tested using a captive troop of rhesus macaques. The group was observed for a three-month period in the summer of 1973. Social interaction and spatial distribution data were collected in order to test the following hypotheses:
1.a. there is a single focus of attention
1.b. there are two foci of attention: one associative and one agonistic
2. the dominant animal, due to its status as agonistic focus of attention, maintains group cohesion.
While both an agonistic and associative focus of attention were found, these were not related to spatial centrality. The second hypothesis was rejected, and it was suggested that both agonistic and associative behaviors are important to group cohesiveness. Implications of these findings are discussed.