Resolving conflicts in animal societies

Aureli et al. (2002) review the evidence for conciliation in primate social groups. An important point is that animals in a social group live in circumstances in which an individual's welfare can easily come into conflict with either the group's welfare or that of other animals in the group. In theory, at least, extreme conflict could lead to the dissolution of the group, and loss of the benefits of group living, such as shared defense or hunting, for all of its members.

Conflict between a dominant and subordinate animal over resources such as food or access to mates may almost always end with the dominant individual possessing the resource. Are there social mechanisms which can maintain the bonds within the group, and the cohesion of the group necessary for its members to have the shared benefits of group living, when conflict is also very much a part of group living?

Two types of behavior can mitigate the consequences of conflict in primate groups. First, greetings, expressions of friendly behavior, grooming, and nonaggressive touching may enhance mutual tolerance of animals prior to situations which could cause aggression, and may reduce general levels of conflict and aggression in the group.

Second, post-conflict behaviors can serve to reconcile group members who have clashed, and to insure later cooperation among those individuals. Losers in conflicts in primate societies who have previously been subjected to attacks are actually much more likely to subjected to subsequent attacks and continued hostility. In chimpanzees, previous participants in conflicts actually are likely to be near each other, rather than avoiding one another. This close proximity allows the exchange of grooming, hugs, and kisses. Clearly these behaviors can diffuse the chances of future conflict. From the point of view of the winner of the previousl conflict, conciliation helps to insure future cooperation in the social group. The loser gains, as well, by avoiding future attacks. Post-conflict conciliation is widespread among primate species, but is also known from domestic goats and dolphins in captivity, and from spotted hyaenas in the wild (Aureli et al. 2002).

Aureli F, Cords M, Van Schaik C P 2002 Conflict resolution following aggression in gregarious animals: a predictive framework. Anim Behav 64: 325-343