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Comparison of Methods for Assessing Personality in Nonhuman Primates

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Personality and Temperament in Nonhuman Primates

Part of the book series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects ((DIPR))

Abstract

A review of the field of primate personality revealed that two main methods have been used to study primate personality: behavioral codings and observer trait ratings. Both of these methods can be broken down by the conditions in which they are used – naturalistic observation, testing context, or cumulative observation. The most commonly used method-condition combination to assess primate personality has been the behavioral coding/naturalistic observation combination. This combination was used in more than half (60%) of the studies reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of each of the method-condition combinations are discussed. A review of empirical studies comparing the behavioral-coding and trait-rating methods revealed that the trait-rating method seems to be better at assessing primate personality. However, only three scales have been used for 66% of the primate personality studies using a trait-rating method. Two procedures are suggested in order to develop new ratings scales for studying primate personality. Recommendations are made for the best method/condition combination to use and how to improve the use of each combination when assessing primate personality.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Stephanie Anestis, John Capitanio, Frans de Waal, Lynn Fairbanks, James Dee Higley, James King, Lindsay Murray, Jon Sefcek, and Alex Weiss for their help with this task.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA

    Hani Freeman

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Texas, 1 University Station A8000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Samuel D. Gosling

  3. Department of Veterinary Sciences, Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 650 Cool Water Drive, Bastrop, TX, 78602, USA

    Steven J. Schapiro

Authors
  1. Hani Freeman
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  2. Samuel D. Gosling
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  3. Steven J. Schapiro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hani Freeman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Philosophy, Psychology, and La, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH89TA, United Kingdom

    Alexander Weiss

  2. Dept. Psychology, University of Arizona, University Blvd. 1503, Tucson, 85721, Arizona, USA

    James E. King

  3. , Department of Psychology, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ, United Kingdom

    Lindsay Murray

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Freeman, H., Gosling, S.D., Schapiro, S.J. (2011). Comparison of Methods for Assessing Personality in Nonhuman Primates. In: Weiss, A., King, J., Murray, L. (eds) Personality and Temperament in Nonhuman Primates. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0176-6_2

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