To further the potential for applied personality studies, we present a methodology for assessing personality in nonhu man animals without a priori assumptions, using behavioral measures to discriminate personality sur...To further the potential for applied personality studies, we present a methodology for assessing personality in nonhu man animals without a priori assumptions, using behavioral measures to discriminate personality survey results. Our study group consisted of 12 freeranging, provisioned, adult Tibetan macaques Macaca thibetana at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys, China. We asked familiar Chinese park guards and scientists to rate each of the 12 macaques using 27item personality surveys. We also recorded behavioral observations （〉 100 hrs） from AugustSeptember, 2012. The personality surveys showed reliability in 22 of the items that were then utilized in a principal component analysis that revealed five components： Insecurity, Reactivity, Boldness, Sociability, and Leadership. Prior personality research on Macaca show comparable components. In order to determine which behaviors would best predict those five personality components, we conducted discriminant analyses using behavioral measures as predictors. We found that behavioral measures of avoidance, lunging, feargrinning, selfdirected behaviors, touching, proximity and chasing could significantly predict personality component scores in certain situations. Finally, we analyzed the effects of situation （provisioning and tourists） and found situation influenced proximity and rates of avoidance and selfdirected behaviors. Wider implementation of this methodology may permit longterm analysis of personality using behavioral proxies for established personality traits, in particular on research investigating the effects of tourism and provisioning on personality .展开更多
文摘To further the potential for applied personality studies, we present a methodology for assessing personality in nonhu man animals without a priori assumptions, using behavioral measures to discriminate personality survey results. Our study group consisted of 12 freeranging, provisioned, adult Tibetan macaques Macaca thibetana at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys, China. We asked familiar Chinese park guards and scientists to rate each of the 12 macaques using 27item personality surveys. We also recorded behavioral observations （〉 100 hrs） from AugustSeptember, 2012. The personality surveys showed reliability in 22 of the items that were then utilized in a principal component analysis that revealed five components： Insecurity, Reactivity, Boldness, Sociability, and Leadership. Prior personality research on Macaca show comparable components. In order to determine which behaviors would best predict those five personality components, we conducted discriminant analyses using behavioral measures as predictors. We found that behavioral measures of avoidance, lunging, feargrinning, selfdirected behaviors, touching, proximity and chasing could significantly predict personality component scores in certain situations. Finally, we analyzed the effects of situation （provisioning and tourists） and found situation influenced proximity and rates of avoidance and selfdirected behaviors. Wider implementation of this methodology may permit longterm analysis of personality using behavioral proxies for established personality traits, in particular on research investigating the effects of tourism and provisioning on personality .
