Hooded rats housed in isolation were less emotional (defecated less) and more active (ambulated and reared more) in the open field under a variety of exposure conditions, than those housed in small groups. Isolate-housed Ss also spent more time in contact with another S during paired-exposure in the open field, which is taken as evidence of greater social-seeking behaviour in isolate-housed Ss.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ADERR., & FRIEDMANS. B.Social factors affecting emotionality and resistance to disease in animals: IV. Differential housing, emotionality and Walker 256 Carcinosarcoma in the rat. Psychological Reports, 1964, 15, 535–541.
2.
ARCHERJ.Contrasting effects of group housing and isolation on subsequent open-field exploration in laboratory rats. Psychonomic Science, 1969, 14, 234–235.
3.
BROADHURSTP. L.Determinants of emotionality in the rat: II. Antecedent factors. British Journal of Psychology, 1957, 48, 1–12.
4.
HAHNW. W.Some effects of group size on behaviour and physiology of the rat. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1965, 8, 455–465.
5.
HARRINGTONG. M.Strain differences in open-field behaviour of the rat. Psychonomic Science, 1972, 27, 51–53.
6.
HOYENGAK. T., & LEKANR. K.The effect of rearing conditions on dominance and emotionality in rats. Psychonomic Science, 1970, 20, 56.
7.
IVINSKISA.A study of validity of open-field measures. Australian Journal of Psychology, 1970, 22, 175–183.
8.
LATANÉB., CAPPELLH., & JOYV.Social deprivation, housing density and gregariousness in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1970, 70, 221–227.
9.
LATANÉB., & WALTOND.Effects of social deprivation and familiarity with the environment on social attraction in rats. Psychonomic Science, 1972, 27, 9–11.
10.
MOYERK. E., & KORNJ. H.Behavioral effects of isolation in the rat. Psychonomic Science, 1965, 3, 503.
11.
SINGHD., & MAKIW. S.Effects of emotionality and social seeking behaviour in the rat. Psychonomic Science, 1968, 13, 163.
12.
STERNJ. A., WINOKURG., EISENSTEINA., TAYLORR., & SLYM.The effect of group vs. individual housing on behaviour and physiological responses to stress in the albino rat. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1960, 4, 185–190.
13.
WARRENW. G., & IVINSKISA.Apparent social effects on open-field behavior of the rat: clarification. Australian Journal of Psychology, in press.
14.
WINERB. J.Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.