Social contact following severe aggression in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): A new test of the consolation hypothesis

Previous studies on macaque species revealed no evidence of consolation: af filiative contact between the loser of an aggressive interaction and a thir d party. However, typically, the researchers used short observation periods and latency to make first affiliative contact as a dependent measure. Base d on social stress buffering literature, I predicted that by employing long er observation periods and percentage of time in affiliative contact as a d ependent measure, I would be more likely to detect increases in affiliative contact following aggression. I observed adult female rhesus macaques for I hr after they received severe aggression and for I hr after some a;affili ative contact, and measured time spent in affiliative contact using instant aneous recording at 30-sec intervals. Contrary to prediction, victims of at tack did not spend a greater percentage of time in affiliative contact post aggression as compared to post affiliation. Subjects were also less likely to initiate contact with other individuals and were more likely to have con tact with individuals that were dominant to their aggressor, following aggr ession. These results provide converging evidence that affiliative contact is not increased following aggression in macaques. I discuss the failure to bear out the predictions based on the social stress buffering literature i n terms of rhesus social dynamics, the nature of aggression as a stressor, and possible mechanisms for the social stress buffering effect.