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.
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