Abstract
Self-punishments, hyperaggressiveness, stereotyped behaviors, bizarre movements, and masturbation are more typical of adult-male isolates than of adult-male wild-born rhesus. These differences persist into the 13th year. Social exploration and cage-shaking are also depressed in isolates. A number of speculative explanations are offered for many isolate behaviors. An individual animal's abnormalities not only change but decrease with age and the kinds and frequencies of abnormalities decrease as isolates habituate to a new situation. The behavior of controls is much less variable than is the behavior of isolates. Saluting and eyeball pressing correlate with reduced levels of arousal. Isolate “abnormalities” are viewed as “normal” responses to an altered ecology.
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This research was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants MH22253, RR 00169, and HD 04335, as well as by University of California, Davis, Faculty Research Grants D-515 and D-552.
Requests for reprints should be sent toG. Mitchell, Department of Psychology.
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Fittinghoff, N.A., Lindburg, D.G., Gomber, J. et al. Consistency and variability in the behavior of mature, isolation-reared, male rhesus macaques. Primates 15, 111–139 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01742276
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01742276