Many vertebrate species show display behaviors when predators are in their vicinity. Some of these displays may inform the predator of the improbability of capturing the prey (i.e., pursuit-deterrent displays) and are potentially advantageous to both predator and prey. Here we present data on a tail display performed by Gonatodes albogularis, a diurnal tropical gecko. We performed transect surveys in three habitats near Bogotá in Colombia. Geckos detected during transects were approached by the observer in a standardized way, and details of their tailwaving displays were recorded. In control recordings animals were watched from a distant site without approaching them. Results showed sexual differences in tail-waving display: when approached by the observer, males performed this behavior more frequently than females. We found no significant differences between males and females in flight-initiation distances and height above the substratum when they were initially located. Results also showed that males displayed more frequently when approached than when the simulated predator remained stationary. We interpret these results as evidence that the display functions as a pursuit-deterrent signal to potential predators. However, as some tail displays were performed in the presence of conspecifics, the display may also have a social function.
Traditional and mainstream legal frameworks conceive law primarily as a purely rational practice, free from affect or intuition. However, substantial evidence indicates that human decision-making depends upon diverse biases. We explored the manifestation of these biases through comparisons among 45 criminal judges, 60 criminal attorneys, and 64 controls. We examined whether these groups’ decision-making patterns were influenced by (a) the information on the transgressor’s mental state, (b) the use of gruesome language in harm descriptions, and (c) ongoing physiological states. Judges and attorneys were similar to controls in that they overestimated the damage caused by intentional harm relative to accidental harm. However, judges and attorneys were less biased towards punishments and harm severity ratings to accidental harms. Similarly, they were less influenced in their decisions by either language manipulations or physiological arousal. Our findings suggest that specific expertise developed in legal settings can attenuate some pervasive biases in moral decision processes.
Gonatodes albogularis is a small diurnal gecko that lives in Central and northern South America and whose behaviour has been rarely analysed. This study describes the behaviour patterns occurring during agonistic encounters between male geckos, assesses the effect of morphological and behavioural traits on aggressive intensity and contest outcome, and tests predictions of the sequential assessment and self-assessment models of animal contests. We staged encounters between randomly paired wild-caught males in a neutral arena. The behaviour of both males was recorded and a winner was determined for most encounters. Aggressive patterns exhibited during the contests included 'throat depression', 'push-ups', three types of 'tail display', 'whole body waving' and 'bites'. Contest winners did not differ from losers in any of the morphological variables examined. However, winners performed longer or more frequent aggressive behaviours than losers, and frequency of 'throat depression' and duration of 'whole body waving' significantly predicted final status of geckos. These results show that some behaviours are good predictors of the outcome of aggressive encounters in G. albogularis. Moreover, winner SVL significantly predicted the aggressive intensity of the contest. Early theoretical models hypothesized that there should be mutual assessment between contestants, but our results for G. albogularis agree more with a recent model of 'self-assessment only' of intrasexual competition.
Objective: to establish whether the Canadian selfreport altruism scale Questionnaire is a reliable estimate for altruistic behavior in young Colombian university students.Methodology: the self-report altruism scale test was adapted and applied. 327 university students between 18 and 25 years from five independent cohorts participated in this study. Participants should note, in 20 items, the frequency (never, once, more than once, often or very often) with which they performed altruistic behavior. The method of this study followed the protocol of the World Health Organization for these cases. There was also a correlation analysis between the score of the questionnaire and the evaluation that some close friends of each participant made in relation to the altruistic tendency of the latter.Results: cronbach's alpha, bipartition analysis and comparison of these data with those reported in other countries show that the instrument is highly reliable. The selfreport altruism scale questionnaire is a useful tool to estimate the altruistic behavior of Colombian university students.Conclusions: the relevance of developing tools to assess prosocial behavior in the country is discussed and clarified. Expanding the age range and applying the questionnaire to non-university populations, will strengthen the development of the instrument.
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