Sex and aggression during rhesus monkey group formation

Abstract

Observational data from 16 newly formed social groups of rhesus monkeys were analyzed to identify patterns of behavior that correlated with the frequency and intensity of aggression directed toward females. The results revealed significant correlations between heterosexual behavior and female-female noncontact aggression and between female homosexual behavior and female-female contact aggression. The role of female homosexual behavior and its relationship to aggression in the formation of new groups is discussed.