Coping with short-tem space restriction in chimpanzees (2001)

Caws, C. E., Aureli, F.

Abstract

During the indoor period the chimpanzees showed no increase in aggression, grooming, and submissive greeting, nor changed their proximity to adult males. However, the percentage of aggressive events that involved more than 2 individuals was significantly lower during the indoor period. In addition, 36 dyads were identified as "highly aggressive" during the control period; aggression was reduced in these dyads during the indoor period. These results confirm previous evidence that chimpanzees do not increase aggression during space restriction. Furthermore, they seem to inhibit aggression by not joining ongoing conflicts and by selectively decreasing the targeting of common victims.