Multidimensional scaling of macaque social interaction

Observations of social behavior in 120 pairs of rhesus macaques were organized into three matrices: male‐male interactions, female‐female interactions, and male‐female interactions. The alternating least‐squares dimensional analysis (ALSCAL‐4) was applied to each matrix to derive one‐, two‐, three‐, and four‐dimensional solutions. For each matrix, the two‐dimensional solution gave the best fit with least stress. The loadings for each category on the two dimensions were then compared with previously derived message statements for those categories and the messages were corrected as needed to conform to these analyses. For all three matrices, the two dimensions underlying social behaviors were dominance or submissiveness by the self, and a positive or negative affiliative relationship bias to the pairmate.