Personality and Temperament in Nonhuman Primates

Recently, there has been an increased interest in research on personality, temperament, and behavioral syndromes (henceforth to be referred to as personality) in nonhuman primates and other animals. This follows, in part, from a general interest in the subject matter and the realization that individual differences, once consigned to ‘error’ terms in statistical analyses, are potentially important predictors, moderators, and mediators of a wide variety of outcomes ranging from the results of experiments to health to enrichment programs. Unfortunately, while there is a burgeoning interest in the subject matter, findings have been reported in a diverse number of journals and most of the methodological and statistical approaches were developed in research on human personality.

The proposed volume seeks to gather submissions from a variety of specialists in research on individual differences in primate temperament, personality, or behavioral syndromes. We anticipate that chapters will cover several areas. The first part of this edited volume will focus on methodological considerations including the advantages and disadvantages of different means of assessing these constructs in primates and introduce some statistical approaches that have typically been the domain of human personality research. Another part of this edited volume will focus on present findings including the physiological and genetic bases of personality dimensions in primates; the relationship between personality and age; how personality may moderate or impact various outcomes including behavior, health, and well-being in captive and non-captive environments. For the third part of the volume we hope to obtain summaries of the existing work of the authors on the evolutionary important of personality dimensions and guideposts for future directions in this new and exciting area of research.

The result of a symposium hosted by the American Society of Primatologists, this volume attests to the huge strides made in recent decades by researchers studying primates and their behavior. Research into the notion of ‘personality’ in nonhuman primates can be traced back to the 1930s and 40s, when primatologists began to notice large individual differences in the behavioral and emotional disposition of monkeys and apes. Jane Goodall’s work at Gombe National Park pushed the field further, but its perceived anthropomorphism was frowned on for a time. Undeterred, primatologists continued to investigate aspects of personality at Gombe. Peter Buirski’s ‘Emotions Profile Index’ and the Madingley questionnaire used by Joan Stevenson-Hinde and her group were vital developments and even informed work in other species.

With contributions from some of the leading researchers currently exploring the topic, this collection fulfils a need for a comprehensive survey of the latest developments in the study of personality and temperament in nonhuman primates. Yet it also contextualizes the subject by covering early work in the field as well as key ongoing issues such as methodology. A series of chapters then provide analysis of empirical studies that investigate aspects of primate temperament as diverse as impulsivity and aggression and the ecological implications of animal personality. This publication, then, demonstrates the richness and diversity of the field as well as being a source of inspiration for researchers dedicated to investigating the subject.