Response to Frustration as Related to Social Status in Nonhuman Primates.
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to investigate the relationship between the social status of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and responses to frustration. High and low status animals, identified by observations of behavior in a large group, are being tested individually in an operant conditioning situation designed to produce frustration. The animals are first trained to respond on a fixed interval one-minute (FI 1-min) schedule for food reward until stable performance is achieved. The frustration condition which consists of withholding reward on 20 percent of all the intervals, is then introduced and changes in behavior recorded. Testing has been completed on two high status males and two low status males and clear differences emerged between high and low status animals when the frustration condition was introduced. Marked disruption of FI 1-min performance occurred in high status, but not in low status animals. On the other hand, low status animals exhibited a schedule-induced polydipsia not seen in high status animals. This work is now being replicated in an effort to confirm these findings. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0743532
Entities
People
- Irwin S. Bernstein
Organizations
- Emory University