Long-term heartrate responses to social stress in wild European rabbits: Predominant effect of rank position

Substantial empirical evidence supports low resting heart rate (HR) as the best replicated psychophysiological correlate of aggression [Ortiz and Raine, 2004]; however, researchers continue to debate the explanatory mechanisms of the phenomenon. Sensation seeking has been proposed as a possible outcome of low resting HR that may lead to aggressive tendencies but findings have been inconsistent in terms of showing a relationship between sensation seeking and aggression. A meta-analysis was conducted on 43 independent effect sizes, from studies with a total of 32,217 participants, to test the hypothesis that sensation seeking would be positively related to aggression across studies. A significant overall effect size was found (d = .1935, P<.001), supporting the hypothesis. Moderator analyses revealed that the relationship differed based on participant and methodological characteristics, such as participant age and the nature of the aggression measurement; however, these conclusions are limited by the uneven number of studies in many of the moderator classes. Overall, the findings provide support for higher levels of aggression in high sensation seekers and have theoretical implications for arousal theory. Further research on the links between arousal, sensation seeking and aggression can inform clinicians about potential interventions.

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“…rabbits; Eisermann, 1992;Ortiz and Raine, 2004;Raine, 2004]. The findings of five prospective research studies [i.e.…”

Section: Underarousal Theory: Research On Sensation Seeking and Aggrementioning

confidence: 99%

The link between sensation seeking and aggression: a meta-analytic review

Wilson

Scarpa

2010

Aggr. Behav.

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“…Stress can have detrimental effects on the immune system (Sapolsky 1982;Kiecolt-Glaser and Glaser 1991;Munck and Guyre 1991;Alberts et al 1992) and heart rate (Eisermann 1992). Nursing females attending their offspring at the communal den suffer considerable harassment from dominant females (unpublished data).…”

Section: Benefits Asymmetries and Submissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The erect ?penis? is a flag of submission in a female-dominated society: greetings in Serengeti spotted hyenas

East

Hofer

Wickler

1993

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

163

132

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In East Africa, spotted hyenas live in large clans in a highly structured society dominated by females. A clan is a fission-fusion society where members are often solitary or in small groups. Spotted hyenas have a ritualized greeting during which two individuals stand parallel and face in opposite directions. Both individuals usually lift their hind leg and sniff or lick the anogenital region of the other. The unique aspect of greetings between individuals is the prominent role of the erect 'penis' in animals of both sex. Female spotted hyenas have fused outer labiae and a 'pseudo-penis' formed by the clitoris which closely resembles the male penis and can be erected. During greetings subordinates signalled submission with gestures which were not necessarily reciprocated by the dominant participant. Asymmetries were most pronounced in greetings between adult females where the probability of asymmetries increased with the divergence in rank between partners. Greetings between adult females and males were uncommon and restricted to males above median rank, principally the alpha male. Models of primate affiliative behavior assume that benefits derived from social relationships with different individuals are not equal and that individuals are selected to maximize the benefits they receive from social relationships with others. The observed distribution of greetings between partners of different rank matched the predictions of these models. An examination of non-adaptive hypotheses on the evolution of the 'pseudo-penis' demonstrated that the conventional scenario linking (initial) virilization of female genitalia with selection for female dominance does not explain either the initial virilization, nor the evolution of the 'pseudo-penis' to its current form and use. We sketch a new scenario that links (1) initial virilization to the occurrence of neonatal siblicide amongst members of a twin litter, and (2) costs of maintenance, 'pseudo-penile' control over copulation and male submission. Our analysis confirms previous adaptive hypotheses on the function of the 'pseudo-penis' in greetCorrespondence to: M.L. East ings and suggests new hypotheses to account for hitherto unexplained features.

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“…Without the ability to moderate the ANS response to social dynamics, they may be less emotionally regulated and less able to attune to specific features of the social environment that would allow them to avoid loss of status as a result of rejection or social threat. Animal studies show that the subordinate position is associated with chronically elevated heart rates (Eisermann 1992). However, those who manage to achieve a dominant position show lower heart rates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Biological Diary of a Woman: Physiological Consequences of Status and Social Evaluative Threat

Massey-Abernathy

Byrd‐Craven

Swearingen

2014

Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Sex differences in physiological responses to social threats, as well as status seeking, have been found; however, underlying individual differences are far less documented, especially in women. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the role of self-perceived social status in response to social evaluative threat among young women. Participants completed a self-perceived social dominance questionnaire and then underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test in which they received negative feedback. Heart rate was used in order to gauge participants' physiological response. Women who rated themselves as dominant showed a reduction in heart rate from pre-task to post-task, suggesting parasympathetic activation and attunement to the social evaluative threat. Women who rated themselves as subordinate showed an increase in heart rate over the same period, suggesting sympathetic arousal and perceived threat. These findings suggest that physiological responses to social evaluative threats in women may depend on their perceived social status. The autonomic nervous system responses of dominant women may facilitate the maintenance of their social position within a hierarchy.

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Long-term heartrate responses to social stress in wild European rabbits: Predominant effect of rank position

Cited by 41 publications

References 11 publications

The link between sensation seeking and aggression: a meta-analytic review

The link between sensation seeking and aggression: a meta-analytic review

The erect ?penis? is a flag of submission in a female-dominated society: greetings in Serengeti spotted hyenas

The Biological Diary of a Woman: Physiological Consequences of Status and Social Evaluative Threat

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