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The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates (1998) / Chapter Skim
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1. Principles of Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates
Pages 10-14

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From page 10...
... Enrichment is used in the sense of providing for species-appropriate activities in an otherwise restrictive and limited environment. In contrast, psychological well-being is an abstraction that is inferred by measuring behavioral and physiological variables in the affected primates to determine whether a manipulation had the desired effect.
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From page 11...
... Psychologically disturbed animals might appear to be in good physical condition, and evidence of poor physical condition does not preclude psychological well-being. For example, elderly monkeys can show signs of clinical disease, such as arthritis, but maintain social ties, breed successfully, and appear alert and responsive to environmental stimuli.
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From page 12...
... , similar behavioral symptoms could result from atypical developmental processes and not be eliminated by manipulating housing. Nonhuman primates reared in deprived social environments during the first year of life often develop idiosyncratic behavior -- such as rocking, self-clasping, and self-mouthing -- as a replacement for maternal activities (Fritz 1986; Fritz and Howell, 1993a)
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From page 13...
... One can examine adaptation in monkeys by evaluating their reactions to temporary but routine husbandry events, such as being removed from their home cage, or to more permanent events, such as a change in cage location. The ability to adapt to change is a manifestation of a broader capability: to exhibit behavior appropriate to the environmental context.
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From page 14...
... In summary, we expect animals in a state of psychological well-being to engage in species-typical behavior if given the opportunity to do so, to be capable of coping with minor disruptions in routine, and to display a balanced affect (as opposed to behavior that is indicative of chronic distress) and a behavioral repertoire that does not include maladaptive or pathological behavior.
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Key Terms

  • nonhuman primates
  • bonnet macaques
  • physical health
  • physical condition
  • pathological behavior

  • typically exhibit
  • social experience
  • reproductive behavior
  • intragroup aggression
  • distress vocalizations

  • atypical behavior
  • parental care
  • social partners
  • nor necessarily
  • abnormal behaviors

  • clinical disease
  • represent psychological
  • form social
  • home cage
  • socially reared

  • social ties
  • behavioral stereotypies
  • environmental enrichment
  • expect animals
  • sufficient amount

  • recreating intertroop
  • manipulating housing
  • sexual maturity
  • direct intervention
  • develop reactive


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