Abstract
Chicks whose primary source of visual stimulation during rearing was in the form of human caretakers showed significantly shorter durations of tonic immobility. Birds with only human visual exposure were also more likely to behave in affiliative ways toward the experimenter than were birds from the other rearing groups. Birds reared in a similar manner but tested for tonic immobility in the absence of the experimenter failed to show an effect. The results are discussed in terms of the phylogenetic generality of ontogenetic-dependent reactivity to humans, and the possibility that the ecological validity of experimental studies in which animals are reared in isolation from conspecifics, or otherwise become socialized to humans, may be compromised.
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These experiments were part of a PhD dissertation submitted by T.J.E. to the State University of New York, Albany. This work was supported in part by grants from the SUNY at Albany Benevolent Association and SUNY at Albany’s chapter of the Graduate Student Organization. We thank Elizabeth Eddy, Christine Coniglio, Lori Marino, Laura Sinclair, and Zachary Rodd for assistance. We also thank Robert A. Rosellini, Bruce Svare, Hank Davis, Daniel J. Povinelli, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.
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Eddy, T.J., Gallup, G.G. Passive socialization to humans: Effects on tonic immobility in chickens (Gallus gallus). Animal Learning & Behavior 22, 325–331 (1994). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209841
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209841