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A longitudinal study of the social aspects of aging in captive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Abstract
Social changes associated with aging were assessed in seven captive, socially-housed rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) over a fifteen year period encompassing early, middle, and late adulthood. The changes were evaluated with regard to existing theories about social aging in humans (the theories of social disengagement, activity, continuity, and selectivity). Both quantitative and qualitative measures, as well as analyses of sequential patterns of behavior were used to obtain a complete assessment of changes in social interactions. Analysis of the quantitative measures indicated that highly energetic, non-social behaviors decreased, while affiliative social behaviors either increased or remained stable with advancing age. Tension and agonistic behaviors also decreased. In addition, there were significant changes in the qualitative aspects of social interactions. The time spent in a given affiliative behavior (groom or social contact) increased and negative social interactions decreased across adulthood. The patterns of behavior associated with groom remained highly stable at all points during adulthood, while those associated with passive social contact were more variable. However, these patterns did become less diverse with age. These findings may indicate that groom is used to maintain social ties, while social contact is used for a larger number of social purposes. Although highly energetic activities declined with lower physical stamina in later adulthood, this was not associated with a general decrease in all behaviors. Social interactions were apparently enhanced as evidenced by the increased duration of affiliative behaviors and the decline in negative interactions. These findings do not support the theories of social disengagement or activity, but do provide some evidence to support the selectivity theory. The animals appeared to be maximizing their positive interactions, while minimizing their negative interactions with increased age. In addition, the stability in certain patterns of social behaviors, and the decrease in the diversity of behaviors associated with affiliative interactions further indicates that the establishment and maintenance of social relationships are important during all stages of adulthood, irrespective of advancing age.
Subject Area
Behavioral psychology|Experimental psychology|Psychobiology|Psychology
Recommended Citation
Parks, Kathleen Anne, "A longitudinal study of the social aspects of aging in captive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)" (1993). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9329652.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9329652