Temperament in chimpanzees: I. Method of analysis.

Do, Hebb

doi:10.1037/h0056842

Cited by 46 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Although primate researchers repeatedly came across methodological difficulties when analyzing personality differences in behavioural data, the trait concept in its theoretical and methodological approach has hardly been considered so far. For example, empirical evidence for temporal stability was reported to be substantial in some behaviour categories and completely absent in others (Hebb 1949;Stevenson-Hinde et al 1980;Suomi et al 1996), and it has only rarely been established in primate studies up to date. As noted above, appropriate aggregations at least over occasions, if not over different trait-relevant behaviours and situations, are crucial to tackle the methodological problems that fluctuations impose on behavioural data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As already stated by Donald O. Hebb in the 1940s, finding "meaningful order and consistency" in "endless series of specific acts" (Hebb 1946, p. 88;Hebb 1949) that are stable enough to permit predictions of the individual's future behaviour is rather challenging. Therefore, ethological methods of measuring behaviour have to be complemented with theories, methods, and statistics specifically designed for the analysis of stable individual differences developed in human personality psychology (Gosling 2001;Gosling et al 2003;Sih et al 2004;Nettle 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, many studies lack the important criterion of establishing temporal stability (for exceptions see e.g. Hebb 1949;Stevenson-Hinde et al 1980;Suomi et al 1996). Temporal stability is however implicated in studies reporting on high heritability of interindividual differences (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Personality in the behaviour of great apes: temporal stability, cross-situational consistency and coherence in response

2008

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Using a multidisciplinary approach, the present study complements ethological behaviour measurements with basic theoretical concepts, methods, and approaches of the personality psychological trait paradigm. Its adoptability and usefulness for animal studies is tested exemplarily on a sample of 20 zoo-housed great apes (five of each species), bonobos (Pan paniscus), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii). Data on 76 single trait-relevant behaviours were recorded in a series of 14 laboratory based situations and in two different free behaviour situations. Data collection was repeated completely after a timeout of two weeks within a 60-day period. All behaviour records were sufficiently reliable. Individual-and variable-oriented analyses showed high/substantial temporal stability on different levels of aggregation. Distinctive and stable individual situational and response profiles clarified the importance of situations and of multiple trait-relevant behaviours. The present study calls for a closer collaboration between personality psychologists and behavioural biologists to tap the full potential of animal personality research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Personality in the behaviour of great apes: temporal stability, cross-situational consistency and coherence in response

2008

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“…To take primate personality research as an example, only a few studies established test-retest reliability in personality judgments (Martau, Caine, & Candland, 1985;Stevenson-Hinde, Stillwell-Barnes, & Zunz, 1980a) and in manifest behavioral differences (Hebb, 1949;Stevenson-Hinde, Stillwell-Barnes, & Zunz, 1980b;Suomi, Novak, & Well, 1996;Uher, Asendorpf, & Call, 2008). Studies on cross-situational consistency and coherence in response in primate behavior are rare .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first animal personality ratings (Crawford, 1938) and behavioral studies (Hebb, 1949;Pavlov, 1906) were done by contemporaries of William Stern and Gordon Allport. As in humans, ratings are frequently used to assess animal personality (Gosling, 1998(Gosling, , 2001King & Figueredo, 1997;Weiss, King, & Perkins, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality assessment in the Great Apes: Comparing ecologically valid behavior measures, behavior ratings, and adjective ratings

Uher

Asendorpf

2008

Journal of Research in Personality

112

102

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Three methods of personality assessment (behavior measures, behavior ratings, adjective ratings) were compared in 20 zoo-housed Great Apes: bonobos (Pan paniscus), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii). To test a new bottom-up approach, the studied trait constructs were systematically generated from the species' behavioral repertoires. The assessments were reliable, temporally stable, and showed substantial cross-method coherence. In most traits, behavior ratings mediated the relations between adjective ratings and behavior measures. Results suggest that high predictability of manifest behavior is best achieved by behavior ratings, not by adjectives. Empirical evidence for trait constructs beyond current personality models points to the necessity of broad and systematic approaches for valid inferences on a species' personality structure.

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Personality in nonhuman primates: a review and evaluation of past research

Freeman

Gosling

2010

American J Primatol

266

263

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Scientific reports of personality in nonhuman primates are now appearing with increasing frequency across a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, anthropology, endocrinology, and zoo management. To identify general patterns of research and summarize the major findings to date, we present a comprehensive review of the literature, allowing us to pinpoint the major gaps in knowledge and determine what research challenges lay ahead. An exhaustive search of five scientific databases identified 210 relevant research reports. These articles began to appear in the 1930s, but it was not until the 1980s that research on primate personality began to gather pace, with more than 100 articles published in the last decade. Our analyses of the literature indicate that some domains (e.g., sex, age, rearing conditions) are more evenly represented in the literature than are others (e.g., species, research location). Studies examining personality structure (e.g., with factor analysis) have identified personality dimensions that can be divided into 14 broad categories, with Sociability, Confidence/Aggression, and Fearfulness receiving the most research attention. Analyses of the findings pertaining to inter-rater agreement, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, generally support not only the reliability of primate personality ratings scales but also point to the need for more psychometric studies and greater consistency in how the analyses are reported. When measured at the level of broad dimensions, Extraversion and Dominance generally demonstrated the highest levels of inter-rater reliability, with weaker findings for the dimensions of Agreeableness, Emotionality, and Conscientiousness. Few studies provided data with regard to convergent and discriminant validity; Excitability and Dominance demonstrated the strongest validity coefficients when validated against relevant behavioral criterion measures. Overall, the validity data present a somewhat mixed picture, suggesting that high levels of validity are attainable, but by no means guaranteed. Discussion focuses on delineating major theoretical and empirical questions facing research and practice in primate personality.

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Temperament in chimpanzees: I. Method of analysis.

Cited by 46 publications

References 7 publications

Personality in the behaviour of great apes: temporal stability, cross-situational consistency and coherence in response

Personality in the behaviour of great apes: temporal stability, cross-situational consistency and coherence in response

Personality assessment in the Great Apes: Comparing ecologically valid behavior measures, behavior ratings, and adjective ratings

Personality in nonhuman primates: a review and evaluation of past research

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