Non-conscious mimicry is a highly conserved component of animal behavior with multifaceted connections to sociality across taxa. One intriguing consequence of this mimicry in primates is that it promotes positive social feedback from the recipient toward the mimicker. This suggests that mimicry in primates may be an important aspect of positive social interaction, but few studies have tracked the consequences of mimicry in naturally occurring complex social conditions. Here, we designed a novel ethogram to characterize mimicry between conspecifics, to better understand whether mimicry is associated with affiliation between primates in a semi-naturalistic captive setting. In this study, 15 juvenile (aged 2–4 years) rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) were observed at the California National Primate Research Center. Frequencies of mimicry defined a priori (e.g. following, postural mimicry) were observed over a course of 12 weeks. In separate observations during the same period, focal social behavior (e.g. aggression, play, affiliation) with group members was also observed. Subjects that exhibited higher degrees of mimicry were not more prosocial, but they received significantly more play overtures from social partners ( p < 0.01). Additionally, rates of mimicry were higher in 2- and 3-year-olds than 4-year-olds. These results provide proof of principle in a small sample of monkeys that mimicry is associated with social advantages in a complex, semi-naturalistic setting in primates.

中文翻译：

---

行为模仿预测青春期恒河猴（Macaca mulatta）的社会偏好

无意识模仿是动物行为中高度保守的组成部分，与跨类群的社会性有多方面的联系。这种模仿在灵长类动物中的一个有趣结果是它促进了从接受者对模仿者的积极社会反馈。这表明灵长类动物的模仿可能是积极社会互动的一个重要方面，但很少有研究追踪模仿在自然发生的复杂社会条件下的后果。在这里，我们设计了一个新的 ethogram 来描述同种动物之间的模仿，以更好地了解模仿是否与半自然圈养环境中灵长类动物之间的联系有关。在这项研究中，在加州国家灵长类动物研究中心观察了 15 只幼年（2-4 岁）恒河猴 (Macaca mulatta)。在 12 周的过程中观察到先验定义的模仿频率（例如，跟随、姿势模仿）。在同一时期的单独观察中，还观察到与群体成员的焦点社会行为（例如攻击性、游戏、从属关系）。表现出较高模仿程度的受试者并没有更亲社会，但他们从社会伙伴那里获得了更多的游戏提议（p <0.01）。此外，2 岁和 3 岁儿童的模仿率高于 4 岁儿童。这些结果在一小部分猴子样本中提供了原理证明，即在灵长类动物的复杂、半自然主义环境中，模仿与社会优势有关。还观察到与小组成员的隶属关系。表现出较高模仿程度的受试者并没有更亲社会，但他们从社会伙伴那里获得了更多的游戏提议（p <0.01）。此外，2 岁和 3 岁儿童的模仿率高于 4 岁儿童。这些结果在一小部分猴子样本中提供了原理证明，即在灵长类动物的复杂、半自然主义环境中，模仿与社会优势有关。还观察到与小组成员的隶属关系。表现出较高模仿程度的受试者并没有更亲社会，但他们从社会伙伴那里获得了更多的游戏提议（p <0.01）。此外，2 岁和 3 岁儿童的模仿率高于 4 岁儿童。这些结果在一小部分猴子样本中提供了原理证明，即在灵长类动物的复杂、半自然主义环境中，模仿与社会优势有关。