Temperament in nonhuman primates

TLDR

Temperament, once studied in children, is now applied to nonhuman primates at individual, species, and population levels, with identified differences linked to age, sex, rank, social systems, demographics, and ecological traits. This report reviews how temperament is applied to nonhuman primates and summarizes findings across individual, population, and species levels. The authors examine genetic and experiential determinants of primate temperament, explore evolutionary influences, and consider its relation to social behavior and ecology. © 1995 Wiley‑Liss, Inc.

Abstract

Formerly applied to studies of responsivity in children, in more recent years the concept of temperament has been applied to nonhuman primates at the individual, species, and now population levels. While the concepts of temperament and personality have been less distinguished in nonhuman primate studies than in the human literature, temperamental and personality differences have now been identified among individual primates and among primate species in a number of studies. At the individual level, certain temperamental characteristics have been associated with age, sex, and most frequently rank. At the species level, temperamental profiles have been linked to intraspecific differences in social systems, sociodemographics, and features of life history and ecology. In this report we discuss the application of the temperament concept to nonhuman primates and review findings from studies of primate temperament at the individual, population, and species level. We also cite evidence for genetic and experiential influences on temperament in primates, outline concepts related to possible evolutionary influences on temperament, and discuss the possible relation of temperamental characteristics to social behavior and ecology in selected species. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.