Jones CB (April, 2000) Alouatta palliata politics: Empirical and theoretical aspects of power. Primate Report 56: 3-21.
Abstract: Social scientists have studied social influence, in particular, aspects of power, for more than 50 years. Social influence in two groups of the mantled howling monkey (Alouatta palliata palliata Gray) was investigated. Dyadic aggressive interactions were observed 131 times in 516 h of observation. Ritualized aggression (the "branch-break" display), primarily exhibited by males, accounted for 40% of the observed aggression, while fighting and chasing comprised the remainder. Females exhibited fighting proportionately more than males, but the sexes were equally likely to chase. No aggression was observed between males in the 2-male deciduous forest group. A class (socioeconomic) effect was noted in dyadic aggressive interactions among females since aggressors and victims were usually of similar rank. Females may "disrupt" one another's sexual activities, suggesting that female-female competition is intense. There was little evidence for female bonding. Male-female aggression occurred infrequently, almost always in sexual contexts. Females often used the submissive "bared-teeth display" to rebuff males and appear to be significantly "emancipated" from male control. Aggression by adults toward immatures was rare. High-ranking individuals were observed to harass low-ranking individuals, the primary tactic of group expulsion in both sexes. Males were observed to intervene in the aggressive interactions of females, a form of "policing." Coalitions were observed in the 3-male riparian forest group within both sexes and, for females, appeared to be opportunistic. Post-conflict behavior was analyzed to test the hypothesis that submissive behaviors are expressed more frequently after conflict. No significant differences in the exhibition of submissive behavior occurred post-conflict compared with matched controls. Specific behavior patterns occurred more frequently during post-conflict or matched-control periods, however. In particular, "approach" and "vocalize" were more frequent post-conflict, the latter possibly representing "reconciliation" to repair or to stabilize relationships. The lowest-ranking male in the three-male riparian forest group was experimentally translocated to assess the effects of changes in proximity as a function of male identity and dominance rank. The presence or absence of individuals appeared to affect competitive relations among males. French & Raven's (1959) "bases of power" were identified in A. palliata, but mechanisms of social influence are not necessarily "cognitive-based" as they may be for chimpanzees and humans. French & Raven's paradigm may provide a useful framework for comparative studies.
"Power is a general matrix of force relations at a given time, in a given society." Dreyfus & Rabinow, 1982, p 186
References
Dreyfus JL, Rabinow P (1982) Michel Foucault: beyond structuralism and hermeneutics (2nd edition). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, USA..
French, Jr., JRP, Raven, B (1959) The bases of power. In: Cartwright D (ed.). Studies in social power. Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Abstract: Social scientists have studied social influence, in particular, aspects of power, for more than 50 years. Social influence in two groups of the mantled howling monkey (Alouatta palliata palliata Gray) was investigated. Dyadic aggressive interactions were observed 131 times in 516 h of observation. Ritualized aggression (the "branch-break" display), primarily exhibited by males, accounted for 40% of the observed aggression, while fighting and chasing comprised the remainder. Females exhibited fighting proportionately more than males, but the sexes were equally likely to chase. No aggression was observed between males in the 2-male deciduous forest group. A class (socioeconomic) effect was noted in dyadic aggressive interactions among females since aggressors and victims were usually of similar rank. Females may "disrupt" one another's sexual activities, suggesting that female-female competition is intense. There was little evidence for female bonding. Male-female aggression occurred infrequently, almost always in sexual contexts. Females often used the submissive "bared-teeth display" to rebuff males and appear to be significantly "emancipated" from male control. Aggression by adults toward immatures was rare. High-ranking individuals were observed to harass low-ranking individuals, the primary tactic of group expulsion in both sexes. Males were observed to intervene in the aggressive interactions of females, a form of "policing." Coalitions were observed in the 3-male riparian forest group within both sexes and, for females, appeared to be opportunistic. Post-conflict behavior was analyzed to test the hypothesis that submissive behaviors are expressed more frequently after conflict. No significant differences in the exhibition of submissive behavior occurred post-conflict compared with matched controls. Specific behavior patterns occurred more frequently during post-conflict or matched-control periods, however. In particular, "approach" and "vocalize" were more frequent post-conflict, the latter possibly representing "reconciliation" to repair or to stabilize relationships. The lowest-ranking male in the three-male riparian forest group was experimentally translocated to assess the effects of changes in proximity as a function of male identity and dominance rank. The presence or absence of individuals appeared to affect competitive relations among males. French & Raven's (1959) "bases of power" were identified in A. palliata, but mechanisms of social influence are not necessarily "cognitive-based" as they may be for chimpanzees and humans. French & Raven's paradigm may provide a useful framework for comparative studies.
"Power is a general matrix of force relations at a given time, in a given society." Dreyfus & Rabinow, 1982, p 186
References
Dreyfus JL, Rabinow P (1982) Michel Foucault: beyond structuralism and hermeneutics (2nd edition). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, USA..
French, Jr., JRP, Raven, B (1959) The bases of power. In: Cartwright D (ed.). Studies in social power. Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.