Environment, time‐use, and adaptedness in prosimians: Implications for discerning behavior that is occupational in nature

Abstract

A case study of three Coquerel sifakas, members of the prosimian sub‐order of primates, was undertaken in order to examine environmental influences on behavior and adaptedness. By studying shifts and continuities in behavior evidenced by members of this primitive primate species across four different housing conditions, the study also sought to discern identifying features of occupational behavior. Findings suggest that two environmental factors, environmental opportunities for action and time, interacted to produce two other environmental dynamics, environmental press and environmental channeling, that were especially powerful in limiting the sifakas’ behavioral expression under some conditions. Nevertheless, the sifakas also evidenced behavioral resilience. Based on these findings, properties were identified that distinguish behavior that is occupational in nature from behavior that is not. Specifically, occupational behavior manifestly evidences intentionality and purposiveness; it comes into being only by merit of environmental transactions that have been influenced, in some way, by a living being's expression of agency; and it possesses a quality of being able to serve adaptedness. Implications for future research in occupational science are developed.