Mirror‐induced social facilitation in stumptailed macaques (Macaca arctoides)

Abstract

Seven adult female stumptailed macaques (Macaca arctoides) were confronted alternately with their reflection in a mirror and with the mirror covered. The reflection elicited significantly more visual attention and social responding than the control stimulus, replicating previous findings. Mirror-image stimulation did not significantly affect the subjects' manipulation of unfamiliar objects, but it did increase bout-lengths of episodes of drinking from a bottle containing orange juice. Possible explanations for the ability of the mirror to induce social facilitation of drinking but not of object manipulation are discussed, along with possible underlying mechanisms. Mirror-induced social facilitation is further evidence that monkeys interpret their reflection as a conspecific.

Neighbor effect: evidence of affiliative and agonistic social contagion in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

“…Social contagion is defined as ''the spread of affect, attitude, or behavior from individual A (the initiator) to individual B (the recipient), where the recipient does not perceive an intentional influence attempt on the part of the initiator'' [Levy & Nail, 1993:266]. We distinguish social contagion from social facilitation, which is concerned merely with the presence of conspecifics rather than conspecifics engaged in the same behavior as the recipient [Epple & Alveario, 1985;Gochfeld, 1978;Guerin & Innes, 1984;Stamm, 1961;Straumann & Anderson, 1991;Zajonc, 1965]. Behavioral social contagion has been demonstrated for humans [Jones, 1998;Polansky et al, 1950;Rodgers & Rowe, 1993;Wheeler, 1966Wheeler, , 1968Wheeler et al, 1964] and for a number of other species and behaviors, including feeding behavior in puppies, pigs, ponies, cows, chickens, and other birds [Benham, 1982;Birke, 1974;Evans & Marler, 1994;Grosser et al, 1951;James, 1953;Keeling & Hurnik, 1993;Kilgour, 1978;Sweeting et al, 1985;Tolman, 1967aTolman, , b, 1968Tolman & Wilson, 1965;Turner, 1964]; preening behavior in birds [Birke, 1974;Palestis & Burger, 1998]; nest building in birds [Birke, 1974;Bruen & Dunham, 1973]; and running speed in dogs [Scott & McRay, 1967].…”

Environmental Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates: Theory and Application

“…For example, the duration and frequency of social responses exhibited by stumptailed macaques (e.g., threats, grimaces, lipsmacking, and teeth chattering) were higher when the mirror was present compared with when it was covered (Straumann and Anderson 1991). Similarly, capuchin monkeys directed threats toward their mirror images, and the number of threats were greatest toward the largest mirror (Marchal and Anderson 1993).…”

Mirror responses in a group of Miopithecus talapoin

“…Most monkey studies to date have been carried out on macaques (Gallup et al 1980;Anderson 1983Anderson , 1986Anderson and Chamove 1985;Anderson and Bayart 1985;Bayart and Anderson 1985;Itakura 1987;Straumann and Anderson 1991;Boccia 1994;Neel 1996) and cebus species (Anderson and Roeder 1989;Collinge 1989;Marchal and Anderson 1993;Riviello et al 1993;Anderson and Marchal 1994;Westergaard and Suomi 1995). Our research was carried out on Miopithecus talapion, which has rarely been studied in captivity.…”