Behavioral Contagion

Abstract

4 separate experiments on the contagion of game-playing behavior were conducted. Exp. I indicated that contagion occurred whether the game engaged in by the confederate was of high or low valence to S, that mere activity on the part of the experimental confederate did not lead to game playing, and that contagion tended toward specificity. Exp. II indicated specificity of contagion was not necessary, that contagion was not entirely due to a desire to compere in game playing. Exp. III failed to produce contagion of a low-valence game with no restraints against game playing. Exp. IV failed to produce contagion of a high-valence game with no restraints against game playing. Throughout the 4 experiments there was no relationship between contagion and Asch-type conformity. The observed contagion was mediated by reduction of restraints. The data were not adequate to specify the manner in which restraints were reduced, although several alternatives were discussed and evaluated.

Neighbor effect: evidence of affiliative and agonistic social contagion in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

“…We distinguish social contagion from social facilitation, which is concerned merely with the presence of conspecifics rather than conspecifics engaged in the same behavior as the recipient [Epple & Alveario, 1985;Gochfeld, 1978;Guerin & Innes, 1984;Stamm, 1961;Straumann & Anderson, 1991;Zajonc, 1965]. Behavioral social contagion has been demonstrated for humans [Jones, 1998;Polansky et al, 1950;Rodgers & Rowe, 1993;Wheeler, 1966Wheeler, , 1968Wheeler et al, 1964] and for a number of other species and behaviors, including feeding behavior in puppies, pigs, ponies, cows, chickens, and other birds [Benham, 1982;Birke, 1974;Evans & Marler, 1994;Grosser et al, 1951;James, 1953;Keeling & Hurnik, 1993;Kilgour, 1978;Sweeting et al, 1985;Tolman, 1967aTolman, , b, 1968Tolman & Wilson, 1965;Turner, 1964]; preening behavior in birds [Birke, 1974;Palestis & Burger, 1998]; nest building in birds [Birke, 1974;Bruen & Dunham, 1973]; and running speed in dogs [Scott & McRay, 1967]. Studies of behavioral contagion (also called the ''neighbor effect'') [Baker & Aureli, 1996] in primates have focused primarily on agonistic behavior.…”

Effects of the behavior and the perceived arousal of a model on instrumental aggression.

“…s More recently, Baron and Kepner (1970) reported imitation of nonaggressive as well as of aggressive models. Wheeler (1966Wheeler ( , 1968 has also shown that a person's responses in a situation of conflict over aggressing can be influenced by observation of another's response in a similar situation. In the present study, we were concerned with the possibility that disobedience to a command to aggress may also be imitated.…”

Group consensus and judgmental accuracy: Extension of the Asch effect

“…The true Ss made their judgments over a microphone. This basic group influence technique, though n?t directly studied, has since been adapted by Wheeler, Smith, & Murphy (1964) primarily to create experimental deception.…”