EFFECT OF INFANTS ON ADULT SOCIAL-RELATIONS IN THE SQUIRREL-MONKEY (SAIMIRI-SCIUREUS)

7 groups of squirrel monkeys were observed to assess the effect of inf ants on social interactions and interanimal distances among adult memb ers of their natal groups. Each group contained one or two infants, 5 to 7 months of age at the start of the study. Infants initiated affili ative and playful interactions with all adults, whereas adults directe d few, mostly antagonistic, interactions toward infants. Following the removal of infants from groups, distances between adults decreased an d adult affiliative interactions increased more than 100%. The results indicate that infants within the age-range examined can have a pervas ive, primarily inhibitory, influence on adult social relationships.