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Generous Leaders and Selfish Underdogs: Pro-Sociality in Despotic Macaques

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  • Jorg J M Massen
  • Lisette M van den Berg
  • Berry M Spruijt
  • Elisabeth H M Sterck

Abstract

Actively granting food to a companion is called pro-social behavior and is considered to be part of altruism. Recent findings show that some non-human primates behave pro-socially. However, pro-social behavior is not expected in despotic species, since the steep dominance hierarchy will hamper pro-sociality. We show that some despotic long-tailed macaques do grant others access to food. Moreover, their dominance hierarchy determines pro-social behavior in an unexpected way: high-ranking individuals grant, while low-ranking individuals withhold their partner access to food. Surprisingly, pro-social behavior is not used by subordinates to obtain benefits from dominants, but by dominants to emphasize their dominance position. Hence, Machiavellian macaques rule not through “fear above love”, but through “be feared when needed and loved when possible”.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorg J M Massen & Lisette M van den Berg & Berry M Spruijt & Elisabeth H M Sterck, 2010. "Generous Leaders and Selfish Underdogs: Pro-Sociality in Despotic Macaques," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(3), pages 1-5, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0009734
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009734
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    1. Joan B. Silk & Sarah F. Brosnan & Jennifer Vonk & Joseph Henrich & Daniel J. Povinelli & Amanda S. Richardson & Susan P. Lambeth & Jenny Mascaro & Steven J. Schapiro, 2005. "Chimpanzees are indifferent to the welfare of unrelated group members," Nature, Nature, vol. 437(7063), pages 1357-1359, October.
    2. Ernst Fehr & Helen Bernhard & Bettina Rockenbach, 2008. "Egalitarianism in young children," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7208), pages 1079-1083, August.
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    1. Brosnan, Sarah F., 2011. "An evolutionary perspective on morality," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 23-30, January.

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