Daughters are more strongly attached to their mother than sons: a possible mechanism for early social segregation

Gaudin, Sabrina; Chaillou, Élodie; Cornilleau, Fabien; Moussu, Chantal; Boivin, Xavier; Nowak, Raymond

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.01.003

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…These behaviors were analyzed during the last 3 min before separation and the first minute following reunion in order to compare group differences in proximity seeking. One minute of observation after reunion was found sufficient since securely attached infants are easily soothed by the attachment figure when upset by separation (Ainsworth & Bell, ; Ainsworth et al, ), a behavioral outcome that is also observed in lambs (Gaudin et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three key features characterize secure attachment: (i) distress during separation from the caregiver and being comforted during reunion; (ii) proximity seeking with this specific figure, especially when the environment is perceived as stressful; and (iii) exploratory activity enhanced by the figure due to the secure base effect (Ainsworth, ; Bowlby, ). Attachment is not specific to humans as these three features are found in non‐human primates and even sheep (primates: Andrews & Rosenblum, ; Hinde, ; Suomi, ; sheep: Gaudin et al, ). Some authors suggest that maternally deprived infants can form attachment with inanimate surrogates, same‐age peers, or individuals from another species (rhesus monkey: Harlow & Zimmerman, ; squirrel monkeys: Hennessy, Kaplan, Mendoza, Lowe, & Levine, ; Mason & Capitanio, ; sheep: Cairns, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such rapid adaptive ability makes them suitable subjects to investigate the biological basis of attachment. The development and expression of attachment with the mother, and its neurophysiological correlates are starting to be documented in sheep (Gaudin et al, ; Nowak, Keller, & Lévy, ). However, no study has thoroughly explored if secure attachment, as described in primates, also exists in sheep.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To test this hypothesis we used the three key features cited above and focused our study on female lambs only, because they express clearer attachment behaviors than males (Gaudin et al, ). In a first step, distress reaction during separation and proximity seeking during reunion were investigated in a test performed in the home pen at 5 days, when attachment is being formed, and at 21 days, once attachment is clearly established, at least in mothered lambs (Gaudin et al, ). At the same time, blood samples were taken to investigate endocrine responses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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All bonds are not alike: A psychoendocrine evaluation of infant attachment

Gaudin

Chaillou

Wycke

et al. 2017

Developmental Psychobiology

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Characteristics of attachment were assessed in peer-and object-reared lambs, and compared to mothered subjects by taking into consideration distress, proximity seeking, and exploration during two separation-reunion tests in both the familiar and a novel environment. Plasma cortisol and oxytocin were assayed as physiological indicators of stress and being comforted during the separation-reunion test. Rewarding properties of the familiar figures were also determined in a conditioned place preference-like paradigm. Between-group analysis revealed the existence of secure attachment with the mother, alteration of secure attachment with the peer and weaker attachment with the object. Weaker attachment was expressed by a lack of distress during separation in the home pen and no preference for the place conditioned with the familiar object. Elevated basal plasma oxytocin levels, but not cortisol, observed in maternally deprived lambs were more likely linked to the absence of a maternal figure rather than social comfort during reunion. K E Y W O R D Sattachment, cortisol, distress, oxytocin, social bond

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

All bonds are not alike: A psychoendocrine evaluation of infant attachment

Gaudin

Chaillou

Wycke

et al. 2017

Developmental Psychobiology

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“…It has also been determined that female lambs have stronger lamb-ewe bonds and greater responses to stressors than male lambs (51,52,53) . In domestic sheep without limitations in the availability of food, abrupt weaning affected more the susceptibility to parasites and the growth rate of females than males (5,9) .…”

Section: Factores Que Afectan La Respuesta a La Separación De La Ovejmentioning

confidence: 99%

Destete artificial en ovinos: respuesta de estrés y bienestar animal. Revisión

Freitas‐de‐Melo

Ungerfeld

2016

Rev. Mex. Cienc. Pecu.

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El vínculo oveja-cordero se establece al parto y cambia a lo largo del periodo de lactación hasta el destete natural. El destete artificial es un manejo frecuentemente utilizado en los diferentes tipos de sistemas de producción ovina, que es realizado más tempranamente que el destete natural. Es uno de los eventos más estresantes en la vida del animal, ya que genera cambios fisiológicos y de comportamiento fuertemente indicadores de estrés, pudiendo afectar negativamente la salud y el bienestar animal tanto de ovejas como de corderos, así como los resultados productivos. La presente revisión sintetiza y analiza información sobre cómo se establece el vínculo madre-cría, el desarrollo del mismo durante el período de lactación y el proceso de destete natural, así como los cambios que se producen cuando el destete se adelanta artificialmente. Además, se describe la respuesta generada por el destete artificial y qué factores la afectan, a nivel fisiológico, de comportamiento y productivo. Por último, se presenta la información existente sobre posibles estrategias que permitan minimizar los efectos negativos del estrés de destete artificial. Se agrega información original sobre cómo la variación cualitativa y cuantitativa de la oferta de pastura en los sistemas extensivos de producción ovino pueden afectar la respuesta de destete de los corderos, y manejos con potencialidad práctica que pueden mitigar la respuesta al destete artificial. Se especifican aspectos en los que existe necesidad de investigación para mejorar la comprensión y desarrollar alternativas sobre cómo modular la respuesta de estrés al destete.

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Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species

Whiteside

Horik

Langley

et al. 2017

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Hypotheses for why animals sexually segregate typically rely on adult traits, such as differences in sexual roles causing differential habitat preferences, or size dimorphism inducing differences in diet or behaviour. However, segregation can occur in juveniles before such roles or size dimorphism is well established. In young humans, leading hypotheses suggest that (1) sexes differ in their activity and the synchronisation of behaviour causes segregation and (2) sexes separate in order to learn and maximise future reproductive roles. We reared pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, from hatching in the absence of adults in a controlled environment. Females aggregated with their own sex from hatching, whereas males initially exhibited random association, but segregation became pronounced with age. The increase in segregation corresponded to an increase in sexual size dimorphism. By standardising habitat availability and diet and by removing predation risk, we could disregard the Predation Risk and the Forage Selection Hypotheses operating at this age. Activity budgets did not differ between the sexes, providing no support for the Behavioural Synchrony or the Activity Budget Hypotheses. Both sexes preferentially approached groups of unfamiliar, same-sex birds in binary choice tests, providing support for the Social Preference Hypothesis. Females may segregate to avoid male aggression. Sexual segregation may become established early in development, especially in precocial species, such as pheasants. A clear understanding of ontogenetic factors is essential to further our understanding of adult assortment patterns. Assortment by sex may not be inherent, but rather emerge as a consequence of social interactions early in life.Significance statementHypotheses pertaining to the force driving sexual segregation typically rely on adult traits, such as size dimorphism or differences in sexual roles. However, in some species, animals segregate as juveniles, so that most hypotheses previously invoked to explain sexual segregation in adults are irrelevant. We reared pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, from hatching and monitored multiple aspects of the chicks’ life history in an effort to determine what causes sexual segregation. Females aggregate with their own sex from hatching, whereas males initially have a more random association, but segregation becomes pronounced as both sexes got older, coinciding with greater sexual dimorphism. We controlled for influences of predation risk and dietary/habitat choice and found that activity budgets did not differ between the sexes. Instead, we found that both sexes preferred their own sex when presented with a binary choice, providing evidence that social preference could drive sexual segregation in pheasants.

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Daughters are more strongly attached to their mother than sons: a possible mechanism for early social segregation

Cited by 18 publications

References 78 publications

All bonds are not alike: A psychoendocrine evaluation of infant attachment

All bonds are not alike: A psychoendocrine evaluation of infant attachment

Destete artificial en ovinos: respuesta de estrés y bienestar animal. Revisión

Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species

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