Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Leadership, personality and social feedback
Jennifer L Harcourt1, Tzo Zen Ang, Gemma Sweetman
1Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Cambridge, UK.
Communicative & Integrative Biology
|September 2, 2009
Summary
Leadership in stickleback fish emerges from distinct individual temperaments. Bolder fish lead, while shy fish follow, influencing leadership through social feedback.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Animal Social Dynamics
Background:
- Leadership is a complex social phenomenon observed across species.
- Understanding the individual drivers of leadership is crucial for explaining social dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of individual behavioral differences in the emergence of leadership in pairs of foraging stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus).
- To determine how individual temperament influences social interactions and leadership within dyads.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of foraging data from randomly paired stickleback.
- Application of Markov Chain models to infer individual movement rules from joint behavior.
Main Results:
- Both individuals in a pair responded to partner movement.
- Bolder individuals exhibited less responsiveness and greater initiative, acting as leaders.
- Shy individuals were more responsive followers and appeared to enhance leadership tendencies in their bold partners.
Conclusions:
- Leadership in stickleback is strongly influenced by individual temperament differences.
- Social feedback, particularly the follower's behavior, can reinforce leadership in bolder individuals.
- Temperament-driven social interactions are fundamental to the development of leadership hierarchies.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Negative and Positive Feedback
Animal organs and organ systems constantly adjust to internal and external changes through a process called homeostasis ("steady state"). Examples of these changes include regulation of the level of glucose or calcium in the blood or internal responses to external temperatures. Homeostasis requires maintaining an internal dynamic equilibrium:
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
01:29Dark Triad and Person Perception
Person perception is influenced by both external behaviors and the observer’s internal characteristics, including personality traits. Individuals with dark personality traits, comprising psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism — collectively known as the dark triad – exhibit manipulative and exploitative tendencies in social contexts. These traits affect how they perceive others and how they are perceived.The Role of Dark Personality Traits in Person PerceptionBlack et al. (2014) explored...
00:52Social Proof
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
01:30Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals
The actions and characteristics of others heavily influence the causes of social behaviors. Emotional expressions serve as powerful social signals, shaping behaviors and interactions in significant ways. Whether through direct observation or subconscious processing, individuals constantly adjust their responses based on the emotions and attributes of those around them.Emotional Cues and Social ResponsesFacial expressions, tone of voice, and body language provide crucial emotional cues that...
01:24Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem: self-efficacy,...