Читать книгу The Handbook of Solitude - Группа авторов - Страница 46

Nonhuman primates are the evolutionarily closest animals to humans (Kumar & Hedges, 1998) and, therefore, provide important models to understand the potential effects of deprivations in social experiences on humans. Rhesus monkeys, perhaps the most commonly used nonhuman primates in research, share similarities with humans (Phillips et al., 2014). They share approximately 95% of their genes with humans, and the structure and functional organization of their brains are highly similar to human brains (Stevens et al., 2009). For example, rhesus monkeys’ neocortex constitutes 72% of the brain volume, whereas humans’ neocortex constitutes 80% of the brain volume (Passingham, 2009). In vast contrast, rats’ neocortex comprises only 28% of the rat brain. Consistent with the similarities in neural architecture, primates are also capable of more advanced cognitive skills such as inhibitory control and delay of gratification, and therefore, are good models for examining the effects of early experiences on the development of higher‐level cognition (see Phillips et al., 2014). Similar to humans, nonhuman primates have extended life spans with distinct developmental periods such as infancy, childhood, and adolescence. They spend their early months in close proximity with their caregivers developing an attachment relationship and, then, become gradually more independent from caregivers over time, spending more of their time with peers.

Their social and emotional intelligence also make them good models to understand psychological processes (Phillips et al., 2014). For example, several nonhuman primates including rhesus monkeys and chimpanzees demonstrate complex communication patterns, live in social groups, and demonstrate social learning ability of complex behaviors such washing food before consumption (Stevens et al., 2009). They have the ability to recognize themselves as well as others (see Phillips et al., 2014). Specifically, they are able to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar faces, recognize individuals’ faces from photos, and understand other conspecifics’ facial expressions (see Phillips et al., 2014).

Nonhuman primates possess relatively stable temperamental and personality dimensions that are comparable to the dimensions studied in humans (Capitanio & Widaman, 2005). For example, chimpanzees have relatively stable traits such as sociability, positive affect, anxiety, and equitability (see Phillips et al., 2014). Likewise, rhesus monkeys’ temperament during infancy has been associated with both the quality (i.e., reciprocated relationships) and quantity (i.e., how much time they spend with others) of their social relationships during juvenile years (Weinstein & Capitanio, 2008). These similarities allow researchers to examine how early experiences such as social deprivation affect their temperament, mood, and personality.