Abstract
Post-conflict affiliation is a mechanism favored by natural selection to manage conflicts in animal groups thus avoiding group disruption. Triadic affiliation towards the victim can reduce the likelihood of redirection (benefits to third-parties) and protect and provide comfort to the victim by reducing its post-conflict anxiety (benefits to victims). Here, we test specific hypotheses on the potential functions of triadic affiliation in Theropithecus gelada, a primate species living in complex multi-level societies. Our results show that higher-ranking geladas provided more spontaneous triadic affiliation than lower-ranking subjects and that these contacts significantly reduced the likelihood of further aggression on the victim. Spontaneous triadic affiliation significantly reduced the victim’s anxiety (measured by scratching), although it was not biased towards kin or friends. In conclusion, triadic affiliation in geladas seems to be a strategy available to high-ranking subjects to reduce the social tension generated by a conflict. Although this interpretation is the most parsimonious one, it cannot be totally excluded that third parties could also be affected by the negative emotional state of the victim thus increasing a third party’s motivation to provide comfort. Therefore, the debate on the linkage between third-party affiliation and emotional contagion in monkeys remains to be resolved.
Highlights
Conflicts in social animals can have various immediate and long-term outcomes
The occurrence and frequency of third party affiliation is affected by several factors, such as the presence/absence of reconciliation, the relationship quality between the victim and the third party, the history of previous agonistic interactions and the level of redirection of a group[3]
Anxiety can be defined as an emotional state deriving from motivational conflict that can be induced by conditions of uncertainty[43]
Summary
Conflicts in social animals can have various immediate and long-term outcomes. Immediately following a conflict, opponents may show a wide range of responses, from tolerance and avoidance of open conflict, to aggression[1]. The occurrence and frequency of third party affiliation is affected by several factors, such as the presence/absence of reconciliation, the relationship quality between the victim and the third party, the history of previous agonistic interactions and the level of redirection of a group (redirection is when a victim redirects aggression against a bystander)[3]. All these factors can affect the outcome of triadic post-conflict affiliation and do so in different ways depending on the species and the relationships of the particular individuals being observed. The heightened level of anxiety can lead to reduced maintenance activities and altered social interactions by the victim, which, in turn, can have a negative impact on other group members
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