Extraversion predicts longer survival in gorillas: an 18-year longitudinal study

Weiss, Alexander; Gartner, Marieke Cassia; Gold, Kenneth; Stoinski, Tara S.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.2231

Cited by 42 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…“Boldness” and related measures of one type or another has been studied in several other nonhuman primates (Morton et al 2013; Kinnally et al 2008; Hopper et al 2014; Weiss et al 2009; Fairbanks et al 2004; Fawcett et al 2014; Weiss et al 2006; Weiss et al 2013; Fairbanks et al 1999). Previous studies have described individual differences among wild chacma baboons in reaction to novel food items (Carter et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Influences on Response to Novel Objects and Dimensions of Personality in Papio Baboons

et al. 2015

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Influences on Response to Novel Objects and Dimensions of Personality in Papio Baboons

et al. 2015

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“…However, studies have revealed associations between primate personality and measures related to social status [76,77], learning, cognitive performance and information processing [78][79][80][81], and health [82,83].…”

Section: (D) Validitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A human model for primate personality

Weiss¹

2017

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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In this article, I review the literature to determine how successful the latent trait theory model of personality from differential psychology has been for studying personality in non-human primates. The evidence for the success of this model is quite good, and offers insights and directions for personality research in primates and other animals. This, I conclude, stems from (i) the human trait model's simplicity, and (ii) the fact that the human differential model of personality developed in the face of harsh criticism, which led researchers to test and refine their models. Animal models of human behaviour and vice versaThe question of whether studies of human behaviour can contribute to the understanding of behavioural evolution is an old one, and the debate that it has engendered is ongoing. In this paper, I will show that using a 'human model' of personality, developed within differential psychology, to study the evolutionary origins of individual differences in behaviour, affect and cognition (i.e. personality) in non-human primates (from now on, primates) has been a successful enterprise. Moreover, in a move that I hope does not distress the editors, I will sidestep answering directly the question posed by this special issue. Instead, I will describe why the human model is useful for studying primate personality and how it came to be that way.Before discussing human models, I will present an overview of animal models. Animal models have been an important and powerful tool for learning about the evolutionary origins of humans behaviour [1]. One would think then that critics of this model would be limited to the likes of creationists [2]. Unfortunately, displeasure and discomfort with the notion that we can learn about our behaviour and its evolution by studying animals has not been limited to people outside the purview of evolutionary biology. For example, because he viewed them as excusing human vices, such as sexism, Stephen J. Gould wrote essays for scientific and lay audiences that criticized adaptationist explanations for human behaviour that were based on studies of animals [3].To some, the use of human models to understand animal behaviour is also controversial. Using humans as models to understand the evolutionary bases of behaviour has a history that dates back at least as far as the use of animal models. The use of human models is rooted in the notion that evolution is gradual, and so related species will tend to be similar [4]. Prominent examples of the use of human models in the history of comparative psychology include Wolfgang Kö hler's investigations into the intelligence of chimpanzees [5], and work by Robert Yerkes [6] and his colleagues, Donald Hebb [7] and Meredith Crawford [8], on chimpanzee personality. These and similar pursuits continue into the present day, and have been enjoined by others (see articles in this special issue).The view that human behaviour can inform us about animal behaviour has been criticized by biologists and psychologists. One criticism is that the use of human m...

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“…Research on nonhuman primate personality bucks this trend (e.g., Koski, 2011a;Massen et al, 2013;Neumann et al, 2013;Konečná et al, 2008Konečná et al, , 2012Morton et al, 2013;Garai et al, 2016;Weiss et al, 2006Weiss et al, , 2007Weiss et al, , 2009Weiss et al, , 2011Weiss et al, , 2012aWeiss et al, ,b, 2015Eckardt et al, 2015;Neumann et al, 2013;Adams et al, 2015;Uher & Visalberghi, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) personality.

Koski¹,

Buchanan‐Smith²,

Ash³

et al. 2017

Journal of Comparative Psychology

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Increasing evidence suggests that personality structure differs between species, but the evolutionary reasons for this variation are not fully understood. We built on earlier research on New World monkeys to further elucidate the evolution of personality structure in primates. We therefore examined personality in 100 family-reared adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) from three colonies on a 60-item questionnaire. Principal components analyses revealed five domains that were largely similar to those found in a previous study on captive, ex-pet, or formerly laboratory-housed marmosets that were housed in a sanctuary.The interrater reliabilities of domain scores were consistent with the interrater reliabilities of domain scores found in other species, including humans. Four domains---conscientiousness, agreeableness, inquisitiveness, and assertiveness---resembled personality domains identified in other nonhuman primates. The remaining domain, patience, was specific to common marmosets. We used linear models to test for sex and age differences in the personality domains. Males were lower than females in patience, and this difference was smaller in older marmosets. Older marmosets were lower in inquisitiveness. Finally, older males and younger females had higher scores in agreeableness than younger males and older females. These findings suggest that cooperative breeding may have promoted the evolution of social cognition and influenced the structure of marmoset prosocial personality characteristics.

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Extraversion predicts longer survival in gorillas: an 18-year longitudinal study

Cited by 42 publications

References 26 publications

Genetic Influences on Response to Novel Objects and Dimensions of Personality in Papio Baboons

Genetic Influences on Response to Novel Objects and Dimensions of Personality in Papio Baboons

A human model for primate personality

Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) personality.

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