POST-CONFLICT ANXIETY IN NONHUMAN-PRIMATES - THE MEDIATING ROLE OF EMOTION IN CONFLICT-RESOLUTION

During the last two decades, much research has focused on the mechanis ms used by nonhuman primates for conflict resolution. Reconciliation, i.e., a friendly reunion between former opponents, has been reported i n several primate species. Reconciliation seems to serve at least two functions. According to the Valuable Relationship Hypothesis, reconcil iation restores the disturbed relationship between former opponents an d, consequently, occurs more often between individuals with more valua ble relationships. The Uncertainty-Reduction Hypothesis emphasizes the function of reconciliation to reduce anxiety and uncertainty in the r ecipient of aggression following a conflict. The study of post-conflic t emotionality facilitates the integration of these two hypotheses. Th e present study focuses on the factors affecting post-conflict anxiety of the two former opponents. Post-conflict data of captive Barbary (M acaca sylvanus) and long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are use d here to examine patterns of anxiety-related behavior, such as self-s cratching. The fact that in the first minutes following a conflict not only recipients of aggression but aggressors too increased the rate o f scratching above baseline levels suggests that the risk of renewed a ttacks is unlikely to be the only reason for post-conflict anxiety. Th e quality of the relationship between former opponents was a good pred ictor of post-conflict scratching rates by the recipient of aggression : Rates were higher after conflicts between individuals with stronger affiliative relationships. This result was not due to differential ris k of resuming hostilities or arousal resulting from the intensity of t he previous conflict. This finding suggests that the disturbance of a valuable relationship due to the previous conflict (e.g., the potentia l loss of benefits provided by such relationships) is a major cause of post-conflict anxiety. In line with the Uncertainty-Reduction Hypothe sis, the best way to cope with post-conflict anxiety is to reconcile a nd therefore restore the relationship. Higher levels of post-conflict anxiety should lead therefore to higher conciliatory tendency. This in terpretation is supported by the fact that individuals with strong aff iliative relationships reconcile more frequently than others, as predi cted by the Valuable Relationship Hypothesis. The mediating role of em otions, such as post-conflict anxiety, is probably not limited to reco nciliation. Other post-conflict interactions, such as consolation, tri adic reconciliation, and mediation, are also likely to be better under stood if future studies focus on the post-conflict emotions of the opp onents and bystanders. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.