Behavioral consequences of crowding in the deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus).

Abstract

Hypothesized that, when the degree of crowding is manipulated by varying group size in cages of equal size, it is probable that crowded animals will engage in more contact than uncrowded animals. Home-cage observation of 24 male and 24 female deer mice indicates that crowded Ss do, in fact, engage in more contact behavior. Both home-cage observation and testing in pairs for pain-elicited aggression reveal that (a) crowded Ss display more agonistic behavior than uncrowded Ss, and (b) agonistic behavior increases with prolonged crowding. Support is obtained for the theory that the effect of crowding derives from contact with conspecifics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)