Personality, cognition and behavior in chimpanzees: a new approach based on Eysenck’s model

Abstract

Personality has been linked to individual variation in interest and performance in cognitive tasks. Nevertheless, this relationship is still poorly understood and has rarely been considered in animal cognition research. Here, we investigated the association between personality and interest, motivation and task performance in 13 sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) housed at Fundació Mona (Spain). Personality was assessed with a 12-item questionnaire based on Eysenck’s Psychoticism-Extraversion-Neuroticism model completed by familiar keepers and researchers. Additionally, personality ratings were compared to behavioral observations conducted over an 11-year period. Experimental tasks consisted in several puzzle boxes that needed to be manipulated in order to obtain a food reward. Dependent variables included participation (as an indicator of interest), success and latency (as measures of performance), and losing contact with the task (as an indicator of motivation). As predicted, we obtained significant correlations between Eysenck’s personality traits and observed behaviors, although some expected associations were absent. We then analyzed data using Generalized Linear Mixed Models, running a model for each dependent variable. In both sexes, lower Extraversion and lower Dominance were linked to a higher probability of success, but this effect was stronger in females. Furthermore, higher Neuropsychoticism predicted higher probability of success in females, but not in males. The probability of losing contact with the task was higher in young chimpanzees, and in those rated lower on Extraversion and higher on Dominance. Additionally, chimpanzees rated higher on Neuropsychoticism were also more likely to stop interacting with the task, but again this was more evident in females. Participation and latency were not linked to any personality trait. Our findings show that the PEN may be a good model to describe chimpanzee personality, and stress the importance of considering personality when interpreting the results of cognitive research in non-human primates.

How do possessiveness, nongenerosity and envy in young female consumers convert into shopping addiction?

“…The findings confirm that possessiveness, nongenerosity, and envy have a positive impact on hedonic shopping motives, self‐efficacy, and shopping addiction. These findings act as an extension of the trait theory, which states that personality traits develop thoughts, behaviour, and emotions in an individual, which further stimulate individuals to consume worldly things to satisfy themselves (Padrell et al, 2020). In this line, high levels of possessiveness, nongenerosity, and envy have emerged as strong predictors of consumer buying behaviour.…”

Neighbors, Pros and Cons: Impact of Intergroup Interactions on the Welfare of Captive Chimpanzee Groups (Pan troglodytes)

“…Besides differences based on the individual's sex, we also found a clear difference in affiliative interaction frequency between both groups, with the Mutamba group exhibiting affiliative intragroup interactions much more frequently, regardless of the context. Considering that the groups' sex ratio, group size, and external factors, such as enclosure design and care management, are identical, these differences could be due to their age distribution (Mutamba only contains one senior chimpanzee), differences in their upbring and adverse early life experiences [89], and/or differences in personality [90]. This tendency is not limited to the affiliative behaviors but can also be observed in the frequency of agonistic behaviors exhibited (Figure S2).…”

Personality traits, rank attainment, and siring success throughout the lives of male chimpanzees of Gombe National Park

“…Personality traits measured using ratings are prospectively related to measured behavior ( Buirski, Plutchik & Kellerman, 1978 ; Pederson, King & Landau, 2005 ; Vazire et al, 2007 ; Uher & Asendorpf, 2008 ; Freeman et al, 2013 ; Brosnan et al, 2015 ) and heritable ( Weiss, King & Figueredo, 2000 ; Latzman et al, 2015 ; Wilson et al, 2017 ). Moreover, higher Dominance and Conscientiousness are positively associated with percentage of gray matter in the subgenual cingulate cortex ( Blatchley & Hopkins, 2010 ), Agreeableness is associated with longevity in males ( Altschul et al, 2018 ), and higher Conscientiousness, Openness, and Dominance have been associated with better performance on cognitive tasks ( Hopper et al, 2013 ; Altschul et al, 2017 ; Padrell et al, 2020 ). Finally, rating-derived traits are not the products of anthropomorphic projections ( Weiss et al, 2012 ).…”