Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
06:42
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Self-protective function of post-conflict bystander affiliation in mandrills
Gabriele Schino1, Claudia Marini
1Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy. gabriele.schino@enea.it
Plos One
|June 21, 2012
Summary
Bystander affiliation in mandrills helps victims avoid further aggression from bystanders, supporting the self-protection hypothesis. This interaction did not reduce victim distress or prevent renewed conflict with the initial aggressor.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Primate Social Behavior
- Animal Communication
Background:
- Affiliative interactions between aggression victims and uninvolved bystanders occur across species.
- Proposed functions include consolation, self-protection, and substitute reconciliation, but empirical data are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functions of bystander affiliation in post-conflict social interactions.
- To test the self-protection, consolation, and substitute reconciliation hypotheses in mandrills.
Main Methods:
- Conducted post-conflict and control observations on a captive group of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx).
- Recorded affiliative interactions and aggression redirection between victims, bystanders, and aggressors.
Main Results:
- Victims redirected aggression towards bystanders, especially those frequently targeted for redirection.
- Bystander affiliation reduced the likelihood of aggression redirection.
- Bystander affiliation did not decrease victim distress (scratching rates) or prevent renewed aggression from the initial aggressor.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the self-protection hypothesis for bystander affiliation.
- Results do not support the consolation or substitute reconciliation hypotheses.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
01:31In- and Out-Groups
People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
02:09Bystander Effect
The discussion of bullying highlights the problem of witnesses not intervening to help a victim. This is a common occurrence, as the following well-publicized event demonstrates. In 1964, in Queens, New York, a 19-year-old woman named Kitty Genovese was attacked by a person with a knife near the back entrance to her apartment building and again in the hallway inside her apartment building. When the attack occurred, she screamed for help numerous times and eventually died from her stab wounds.
01:25Importance of Need for Affiliation
The need for affiliation is a fundamental human motive that drives individuals to form and maintain interpersonal relationships. This universal drive varies in intensity among individuals due to genetic predispositions and life experiences, shaping it into a relatively stable personality trait. Social inclusion enhances emotional well-being by fulfilling the need for affiliation, whereas social exclusion leads to distress, negative emotions, and cognitive impairments.Psychological and Emotional...
01:20Attachment
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...