Thanks to Emory University for this article.
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Consolation behaviors may be characterized as "helping" behaviors, in the described cases, behaviors with appeasement functions. Ceteris paribus, "helpers" are subordinates, assisting the fitness of conspecifics, usually, other group members. "Helping" is dependent upon "repression of competition", occuring as a result of pheromones, coercion, force, persuasion, or self restraint [after Steve Frank; also, Bernie Crespi]. Are consolers [or, re-"consolers"] likely to be subordinte agents...before or after the consolation behavior is expressed? Is there evidence of coercion before, during, or, after, consolation events? What are the dominance ranks of these juveniles' mothers? Finally, if the behaviors described by these researchers function to reduce stress, it is expected that the behaviors, as well, reduce likelihoods of damaging or non-damaging aggression [as per Geoff Parker and Ethological literature]. If the consolation behaviors [including, sex] function to reduce likelihoods of stress and, by implication, aggression, then, by definition, significant [fitness] asymmetries exist between the interacting agents, possibly supporting the ideas throughout this comment. clara b. jones
Blog: http://vertebratesocialbehavior.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbjones1943
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