Social Group Behavior Research Articles

Social Roles in Cattle: A Plea for Interchange of Ideas Between Primatologists and Applied Ethologists

AbstractSocial role has been defined as a pattern of behaviour characteristic of a class of individuals within a group. The concept was developed by primatologists both to describe individual variation in behaviour in social groups and to be used in addition to hierarchy as a model for primate social organization. Cattle have been shown to express considerable individual variation in behaviour. Furthermore, cattle and primates show some similarities with respect to their social behaviour. This may indicate that the concept of social roles might be useful to those studying cattle behaviour. After a brief literature review it is concluded that the concept may indeed be applicable to cattle. The possible welfare implications of this are first, that it would offer a new approach for the study of individual differences in behaviour - important to the understanding of how animals cope with their environment in captivity. Second, it could help the understanding of social behaviour in domestic species. It is suggested that an interchange of ideas between primatologists and applied ethologists is needed.

State Leadership in Economic Policy: A Collective Action Framework with a Colombian Case

This paper uses a framework developed to analyze problems of collective action to gain a more systematic insight into state leaders' abilities to build social coalitions in support of their policies. From this perspective, organized political pressure (collective action) for and against policy options helps determine which policy choices are adopted. The inherent characteristics of a political good and the institutional framework in which it is offered affect its publicness and raise the possibility of riding, that is, benefiting from the provision of the good without paying for it. The potential for free riding reduces the incentives for collective action and thus makes it less likely that a policy which would benefit the group as a whole would be adopted.2 Within this framework, the availability of rents provides state actors with a significant tool to influence the behavior of social groups. Rent is that part of the payment to an owner of resources over and above that which those resources could command in any alternative use. Economic actors are constantly tempted to capture such supernormal profits, but competitive markets dissipate rents. Private or public intervention in markets tends to generate rents.3 In this article I focus on rent seeking to develop arguments about the conditions under which state actors may deliberately or coincidentally affect the incentives for collective action.

Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Preschool Children: Correspondence Among Parent and Teacher Ratings and Behavior Observations

Investigated 45 children between the ages of 3 and 6 years—ranging widely in degree and type of problem behavior—via parent ratings, teacher ratings, and objective observations of social behavior in play groups. The goal was to ascertain cross-informant correspondence for preschool-aged children, with a separate examination of internalizing versus externalizing, behavior patterns. Regarding internalizing behavior, parent ratings (but not teacher ratings) independently predicted observed isolation and withdrawal. As for externalizing behavior, however, teacher ratings were far more strongly associated with play group observations than were parent reports; only the teacher information independently predicted observed noncompliance and aggression. These differential patterns of cross-informant convergence across internalizing versus externalizing domains are discussed in light of the need for accurate identification of behavioral/emotional risk in preschoolers.

Social and reproductive behavior of a captive group of walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma

The social and reproductive behavior of a group of four male and seven female walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, were observed in a large tank. Pollock spent most of their time swimming in a loose aggregation near the surface. Males descended from the aggregation more often than females to follow and make physical contact with other males as well as with females. The difference between males and females in the frequency of diving in our tank is consistent with the reported pattern of depth segregation of the sexes in natural pollock spawning aggregations. The frequency of social interactions increased when pollock became reproductively active and was higher at night and during twilight when most of the spawning occurred. Male interactions with females most frequently involved physical contact, while male interactions with other males were more often limited to following. There was no indication that male-male interactions result in the formation of stable social dominance relationships that determine priority of access to mates, as has been suggested previously for walleye pollock. Rather, following and contact interactions appear to promote male identification of potential mates and encounters with ripe females. The possible functional significance of male social interactions is discussed in relation to reports on natural walleye pollock spawning aggregations.

Giant chacoan peccary: Feeding and social behavior of a captive group in natural habitat

AbstractSocial behavior of the giant Chacoan peccary, also known as the taguá, is relatively unknown due to the harsh environment and endangered status of the population. In order to characterize feeding and social behaviors, a group of 7 adults, 2 juveniles, and 3 infants was observed in their feeding area for 99.25 hours over 18 days during October and November 1989. All animals were housed in a 2 ha natural‐habitat enclosure in the Chaco of Paraguay. It was determined that these peccaries fed in intervals throughout daylight hours and that juveniles spent more time per approach in the feeding area than adult males. It was also observed that infants were accepted and well tolerated by the entire group, including adult males. These observations have relevance to taguá behavior in the wild and provide new insights into social patterns of this recently discovered species.

Speaking turns in face-to-face discussions.

Patterns of speaking turns in 6-person mock juries were examined using Parker's (1988) floor model of conversational turns and a proposed simulation model, SPEAK, which embodies the notions of stable and transitory differences in members' tendencies to speak. Dyadic exchanges (floors) accounted for 49% of speaker turns in these juries, less than in Parker's (1988) 4-person conversational groups but substantially greater than expected by chance. SPEAK model reproduced sequential speaking patterns observed in both sets of data and accounted for the differential incidence of floor and nonfloor states observed in the different size groups. SPEAK simulations demonstrated that complex patterns of speaker turns can arise from confluence of stable differences in speaking rates (Stephan & Mishler, 1952), tendency for speakers to speak again on subsequent turns (Dabbs & Ruback, 1987), and group member competition for discussion time. Face-to-face group discussion often appears chaotic and unpredictable. To the casual observer, it may seem that the succession of speakers is without pattern and that the succession of topics is guided by superficial and often remote associations. However, more careful and systematic observation has revealed striking patterns in face-to-face conversation. Duncan (1972; Duncan & Fiske, 1977) has identified intricate patterns of verbal, vocal, and kinesic cues that are used to orchestrate speaker switches. Tracy (1985) summarized conversational conventions that maintain the coherence of discussion content, and she speculated that shifting the topic of conversation without regard for these conventions may invoke social disapproval. Building on the earlier work of Jaffe and Feldstein (1970), Dabbs and Ruback (1987) examined the patterns of single and simultaneous vocalizations and pauses during group discussion. This work and a more recent study by Parker (1988) highlight regularities in the sequence of conversational turns taken by members during group discussion. Although studying the patterns of conversational or speaker turns ignores many of the social and psychological overtones and the content of group discussion, who speaks when and how often constitute an important consideration in understanding the flow of information and influence during group discussion. Nonverbal behaviors may punctuate and color social interaction, but verbal communication is the primary means of expressing opinions, formulating arguments, and exchanging information during group discussion. Thus, the speaking turn is a basic unit of behavior in social and performance groups.

Wasps' nests and wolf packs: A note on extending behavior setting theory to non-human social groups

The behavior setting theory of traditional ecological psychology has been applied extensively to human settings. This paper attempts to extend that theory to the behavior of non-human social groups in the natural environment. Such groups and their activities, particularly those that are hierarchical, do seem capable of being viewed as analogous to behavior settings, and bear some resemblance in other respects as well: ‘understaffing’, in which fewer than an optimal number inhabit and run a setting, and its converse ‘overstaffing’, occur in natural non-human social groups, and are responded to in ways that parallel responses in human behavior settings. Furthermore, the mechanisms acting to maintain human behavior settings and non-human social groups share some similarities. Sophisticated verbal behavior in humans, however, and the preponderance of phylogenic mechanisms in many non-humans, cause differences in the two categories of behavior settings and setting control mechanisms.

The emergence of social dominance in young boys' play groups: Developmental differences and behavior correlates.

This study examined relations among dominance, sociometric preference, and social behavior in groups of 1st- and 3rd-grade boys. Twenty groups of 6 unacquainted boys met for five 45-min semistructured play sessions on consecutive days. Sociometric interviews yielded daily social preference scores. Boys' social behaviors were coded from video records into discrete categories. Dominance hierachies were formed on the basis of asymmetry (receiving vs. initiating) of peer-directed aggression or persuasion attempts.

Effects of smoked marijuana on human social behavior in small groups

Six adult male research volunteers, in two groups of three subjects each, lived continuously in a residential laboratory for seven consecutive days. Subjects' behaviors, including social interaction and coaction, were continuously recorded. During the first part of the day (0945-1700), subjects remained in their private rooms doing work activities. During the remainder of the day (1700-2345), they had the option to socialize with the other subjects. Four cigarettes containing active marijuana (2.7% delta 9-THC w/w) or placebo were smoked daily: two during the work period, and two during the social access period. Active marijuana had no effect on the total amount of time that subjects spent in the social area. However, active marijuana changed the distribution of activity within the social area by decreasing the amount of time subjects spent engaging in verbal exchanges, i.e., interaction, while simultaneously increasing the amount of time that subjects engaged in the same activity, but in the absence of verbal exchanges, i.e., coaction.

Recent developments in French electoral sociology

For a number of years electoral studies in France have undergone a partial reorientation. A greater importance has been assigned to the nature of the ‘electoral supply’ and the voters strategy in the face of the possible outcomes. Before examining the recent efforts made in this direction, Gérard Grunberg qualifies the criticisms recently levelled in France against the ‘sociological’ nature of the traditional approach and of the growing inadequacy of an electoral sociology based on the analysis of the behaviour of different social groups.

Individual, social group and intergroup behaviour. Some conceptual remarks on the social identity theory

AbstractAn investigation of the group concept proposed by Tqjfel and Turner shows that group formation and intergroup behaviour cannot be explained by the similarity of group members. Taking into account only similarity of elements leads to conceptual contaminations concerning group and class, group and collective, personal and social identity, and finally interpersonal and intergroup behaviour. It is claimed that only the consideration of group structure and the differentiation of partially individual and partially structural attributes of the group members results in a conceptually adequate theory of group formation and intergroup behaviour of its members.

The effect of midazolam and ?-carboline carboxylic acid ethyl ester on behaviour, steroid hormones and central monoamine metabolites in social groups of talapoin monkeys

Established social groups of talapoin monkeys show rank-related differences in aggressive, social and sexual behaviours and visual monitoring, as well as in endocrine and monoamine profiles. Here we describe the effects on these variables of an "anxiogenic drug", beta-carboline carboxylic acid ethyl ester (beta-CCE), and an anxiolytic drug (midazolam) given to either dominant or subordinate male talapoins. In dominant animals beta-CCE increased aggression and visual monitoring but reduced sexual behaviour. Treatment of subordinate animals with beta-CCE served only to increase visual monitoring. Conversely, treatment with a non-sedative acute dose of midazolam in dominants reduced aggressive behaviour and increased sexual behaviour, whereas in subordinates no behavioural changes were noted. Significant effects on endocrine and neurochemical variables were not seen with the acute drug treatments employed. Nevertheless, the results show that drugs which modulate anxiety produce status-dependent behavioural effects.

Behavioral Changes in Social Groups of Bluegills Exposed to Copper

The effects of three concentrations of copper (0.034, 0.057, and 1.30 mg/L) on the behavior of social groups of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus were examined. Social hierarchy formation was similar in all test groups. Ten behaviors, including respiratory disruptions and changes in comfort movements and aggression, were monitored. At the group level, there was a significant positive dose-response relationship demonstrated for coughs, yawns, fin flicks, nips and threats. The most subordinate and most dominant individuals of the hierarchy were affected more than the other fish. Subordinate fish had higher cough, yawn, and fin-flick frequencies during treatment than all other fish in the population; the dominant fish had the next highest frequencies. The aggressiveness of the dominant fish in each tank increased after copper exposure. The observation of significant behavioral changes at copper concentrations as low as 0.034 mg/L demonstrated that behavior can be a sensitive indicator of copper stress.

Conflits sociaux et fluctuations économiques en URSS : l'exemple de la période 1950-1965

L'économie occupe une place importante dans les études historiques consacrées à l'URSS. Sans doute est-ce dû à la fois au « projet » soviétique et au fait que l'histoire de l'URSS a été celle du passage d'une économie agricole à une économie industrielle. Aussi n'est-il pas surprenant qu'elle soit un lieu de rencontre privilégié pour historiens et économistes.Pourtant cette approche pluridisciplinaire se fait souvent dans un cadre particulier : celui de la soumission des évolutions économiques aux décisions d'une direction politique, parfois collective, souvent réduite à un individu. Faut-il préciser que si l'économie soviétique était une « économie obéissante », elle ne saurait intéresser l'économiste. Si les fluctuations y sont le pur reflet des tempêtes politiques et idéologiques, alors cédons la place à des disciplines plus compétentes. Travailler sur l'URSS, pour un économiste, implique ce postulat : les mouvements de l'économie soviétique sont, pour une part au moins, autonomes à l'égard du monde politique.

Simultaneous study of individual differences and relationship effects in social behavior in groups.

Simultaneous study of individual differences and relationship effects in social behavior in groups.

Simultaneous study of individual differences and relationship effects in social behavior in groups.

Simultaneous study of individual differences and relationship effects in social behavior in groups.

External threat and the definition of deviance.

Research ( Lauderdale , 1976; Schachter , 1951) suggests that an external threat to a group can lead to the rejection of deviant members of the group and alteration of group communication patterns and solidarity. This study sought to extend those findings, integrate them with concepts from Simmel 's (1917/1955) work on group conflict, and link them to key issues in the societal reaction approach to deviant behavior. We examined the effect of variation in level of threat, the relationship between deviant status and nonconformity to the central task norm, the role of high-status actors in deviance designation, the relationship between rejection and negative definition of the deviant, and the effects of rejection and negative definition on group solidarity. Hypotheses were tested in an experimental design involving three conditions (strong threat, weak threat, and no threat). The results suggest that (a) the level of threat is directly related to the extent of rejection and negative definition, (b) nonconformity to the central task norm is not systematically related to deviant status, (c) high-status actors are more involved in the rejection of the deviant, (d) sociometric rejection of the deviant is accompanied by negative definition in the strong-threat condition, and (e) the level of group solidarity is related to the extent of rejection and negative definition. Implications of these findings are discussed relative to the societal reaction approach to deviant behavior and analogous processes in other social groups.

External threat and the definition of deviance.

Research ( Lauderdale , 1976; Schachter , 1951) suggests that an external threat to a group can lead to the rejection of deviant members of the group and alteration of group communication patterns and solidarity. This study sought to extend those findings, integrate them with concepts from Simmel 's (1917/1955) work on group conflict, and link them to key issues in the societal reaction approach to deviant behavior. We examined the effect of variation in level of threat, the relationship between deviant status and nonconformity to the central task norm, the role of high-status actors in deviance designation, the relationship between rejection and negative definition of the deviant, and the effects of rejection and negative definition on group solidarity. Hypotheses were tested in an experimental design involving three conditions (strong threat, weak threat, and no threat). The results suggest that (a) the level of threat is directly related to the extent of rejection and negative definition, (b) nonconformity to the central task norm is not systematically related to deviant status, (c) high-status actors are more involved in the rejection of the deviant, (d) sociometric rejection of the deviant is accompanied by negative definition in the strong-threat condition, and (e) the level of group solidarity is related to the extent of rejection and negative definition. Implications of these findings are discussed relative to the societal reaction approach to deviant behavior and analogous processes in other social groups.

Influence of olfactory signals on the reproductive behaviour of social groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Olfactory influences are important in the control of reproductive function in many mammalian species including primates. Previous studies have shown that a mixture of volatile aliphatic acids (copulins), normally present in the vaginal secretions of rhesus monkeys, can exert a stimulatory effect on the sexual behaviour of males when pairs are tested in small cages. The present study deals with the role of these substances when tested in social groups of rhesus monkeys housed in a large testing arena, the purpose being to assess the effectiveness of olfactory signals under more nearly naturalistic conditions. Each group consisted of one male with four long-term ovariectomized females from which the male could choose. A counter-balanced experimental design was used in which each female of a testosterone-treated pair was given applications to the sexual skin of either copulins or control ether immediately before each 1-h behaviour test. After 16 tests, the procedure was repeated with the previously untreated pair in each group, and nine groups were separately studied. Testosterone was used here simply to enhance female proceptivity. The results showed that females received significantly more ejaculations (P less than 0.05), mounting attempts (P less than 0.01) and mounts (P less than 0.05) when bearing copulins than when bearing control ether. There were positive responses to copulins in 12 of the 36 males-females pairs, involving all males, and positive responses to ether in five of 36 pairs, involving four males. Copulins resulted in a change in the choice of sexual partner in five males, but there were no changes in the choice of partner with ether. Social factors, such as dominance, could override the responses to olfactory signals, and there was a significant treatment order effect, but this was eliminated by the counter-balanced design. These findings indicate a significant role for olfactory communication in mate selection in a socially living higher primate.

The Influence of Environmental Factors on Daily Behaviour

The question of the extent to which the concrete physical environment allows, causes, or even forces certain forms of behaviour to occur has been excluded from social sciences literature for a long time. More recent studies from environmental psychology show that the built environment, filtered by subjective perceptions, very probably influences the experience and actions of individuals. Town planning and transport planning is orientated towards the needs, demands, or simply the observed behaviour of social groups, segments of the population, and target groups of individuals. However, at this level the evidence about whether a spatiospecific determinant should be added to the sociodemographic, sociocultural, or socioeconomic determinants is very inconclusive. This paper investigates the influence of certain types of area on behaviour, and uses about 70000 weekday records at the level of differentiated groups of people. Everyday behaviour of the groups is quantified by their time budgets and daily programmes with broad groupings of out-of-house activities as well as various indicators of transport mobility. This study shows that with given characteristics of the individual and his household a series of behavioural parameters does not vary in space and thus these parameters can be used as input for behaviourally orientated transport demand models and transferred from one planning area to another.