| Abstract: | Conducted 5 experiments on the stimulus characteristics mediating 1 rat's attraction for another. 120 Sprague-Dawley and 12 Wistar male albino rats were tested for attraction (physical approach) to (a) a variety of stimulus objects (familiar and unfamiliar objects; stuffed, anesthetized, tethered, and free-moving stimulus rats), (b) rats varying in static stimulus qualities (normal, dyed, shaven, or perfumed), and (c) rats under varying degrees of sensory impairment (normal, blinded, shaven, whiskerless, or anosmic). Variations in sensory capacity or static stimulus characteristics had little effect on social attraction; variations in the dynamic quality of the other rat had large effects. Ss were more attracted to rats which could move and respond to them than to stuffed or anesthetized rats. Results suggest that the quality of behavior and the possibility of interaction between animals mediates gregariousness in rats. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
