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. 2022 Aug 22;12(16):2151.
doi: 10.3390/ani12162151.

"Emotional Proximity" and "Spatial Proximity": Higher Relationship Quality and Nearer Distance Both Strengthen Scratch Contagion in Tibetan Macaques

Yu-Heng Zhang  1   2 , Xi Wang  1   2 , Meng-Meng Chen  1   2 , Yi-Mei Tai  1   2 , Jin-Hua Li  1   2   3
Affiliations

"Emotional Proximity" and "Spatial Proximity": Higher Relationship Quality and Nearer Distance Both Strengthen Scratch Contagion in Tibetan Macaques

Yu-Heng Zhang et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Behavioral contagion has been defined as a phenomenon in which an unlearned behavior automatically triggers a similar behavior in others. Previous studies showed that a behavioral contagion might have the function of strengthening social relationships, promoting group coordination and maintaining social cohesion. However, so far, there are few studies investigating the correlation between contagious scratching and social bonding. Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) live in multi-male and multi-female cohesive matrilineal groups, and scratching is usually observed in their affiliated interactions. We investigated the process of scratch contagion in one group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques and explored whether behavioral contagion could consolidate social relationships and maintain social stability. Results showed that the scratching was contagious and correlated with relationship quality and spatial distance. In dyads with a higher Dyadic Composite Sociality Index (DSI), the contagion was strong. In addition, contagions occurred more frequently and faster among individuals nearer to each other. In terms of social groups, members with higher social centrality participated in more behavioral contagion, whether as expressers or observers. Our findings provide new perspectives for studying behavioral contagions in humans and animals.

Keywords: behavioral contagion; contagious scratching; empathy; social centrality; social relationship quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A graph of the number of scratches per 10 s bin. The mean and standard deviation were calculated from all bins (up to minute 10), only showing the first 5 min for clarity. Before 300 s passed, the strength of scratch contagion decreased significantly with time delay, and this decline continued after that. Contagion occurs quickly after seeing the triggered scratch and lasts until 30 s after the triggered scratch.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Eigenvector centrality coefficients of group members in the social network. Nodes represent all individuals in the group; males and females are respectively shown in blue squares and orange circles; node size is directly proportional to centralities; line thickness represents members’ association index in the social network; the letters on labels represent the name of each individual, and the number after each individual’s name represents the times it has become expresser and observer, respectively.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of scratch contagion at different distances.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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