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Abstract
This paper suggests that attachment, rejecting behaviour and independence initiatives among rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) constitute the most critical elements of mother-infant interactions. Results of previous studies of different family groups indicate that both the mothers' rejecting behaviour and the infants' independence initiatives (or social activities) are not homogeneus but instead differ from each other, depending on subjects' individual differences and on the diverse relationships and experiences among members of the family groups. These findings underline the relevance of a methodology that takes into account individual, dyadic and social variables among subjects. This complex of variables represents a potentially useful methodology for studies on the attachment-independence process in mother-infant interactions in rhesus monkeys and in many other species of monkeys.
Highlights
Attachment behaviour is a dyadic relationship that is an essential characteristic of both human and non-human Primates from the first day of life until death
A secure attachment that the infant establishes with the mother allows him/her to leave her temporarily in order to socialize with the other members of the group and to practise some fundamental physical activities, such as social play behaviours with same-age infants
One argument arising from the results already obtained [see 5, 6, 11] is that the infants’ social activities are rather different from each other, especially in the cases in which the social contact is preceded by maternal rejection
Summary
Attachment behaviour is a dyadic relationship that is an essential characteristic of both human and non-human Primates from the first day of life until death. Secure attachment involves the mother's understanding of the dyad's social context, kinship and her readiness to intervene when necessary to protect the infant. In the healthy growth of offspring, monkeys, humans and many other mammals must develop a strong, self-confident attitude that the infant acquires by staying in close contact with the mother. A secure attachment that the infant establishes with the mother allows him/her to leave her temporarily in order to socialize with the other members of the group and to practise some fundamental physical activities, such as social play behaviours with same-age infants. Behavioural components considered are: ventro-ventral contact with or without nipple contact; rejecting behaviour, that is control of nipple contact by the mother; and the infant's social interaction, including play behaviour, with other group members after being rejected [7,8,9,10, 11]
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