Interindividual differences in neonatal sociality and emotionality predict juvenile social status in rhesus monkeys

Wooddell, L.J., Simpson, E.A., Murphy, A.M., Dettmer, A.M. and Paukner, A. ORCID: 0000-0002-3421-1864, 2018. Interindividual differences in neonatal sociality and emotionality predict juvenile social status in rhesus monkeys. Developmental Science, 22 (2): e12749. ISSN 1363755X

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Abstract

In humans, socioeconomic status (SES) has profound outcomes on socio-emotional development and health. However, while much is known about the consequences of SES, little research has examined the predictors of SES due to the longitudinal nature of such studies. We sought to explore whether interindividual differences in neonatal sociality, temperament, and early social experiences predicted juvenile social status in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), as a proxy for SES in humans. We performed neonatal imitation tests in infants’ first week of life and emotional reactivity assessments at 2 and 4 weeks of age. We examined whether these traits, as well the rearing environment in the first 8 months of life (with the mother or with same-aged peers only) and maternal social status predicted juvenile (2-3 years old) social status following the formation of peer social groups at 8 months. We found that infants who exhibited higher rates of neonatal imitation and newborn emotional reactivity achieved higher social status as juveniles, as did infants who were reared with their mothers, compared to infants reared with peers. Maternal social status was only associated with juvenile status for infant dyads reared in the same maternal group, indicating that relative social relationships were transferred through social experience. These results suggest that neonatal imitation and emotional reactivity may reflect ingrained predispositions towards sociality that predict later outcomes, and that non-normative social experiences can alter socio-developmental trajectories. Our results indicate that neonatal characteristics and early social experiences predict later social outcomes in adolescence, including gradients of social stratification.

Item Type: Journal article
Alternative Title: Running title: Individual differences predict social status
Publication Title: Developmental Science
Creators: Wooddell, L.J., Simpson, E.A., Murphy, A.M., Dettmer, A.M. and Paukner, A.
Date: 1 September 2018
Volume: 22
Number: 2
ISSN: 1363755X
Identifiers:
NumberType
10.1111/desc.12749DOI
Divisions: Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by: Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added: 30 Jan 2019 14:00
Last Modified: 11 Apr 2019 14:41
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/35736

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