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BOOKMARK Conflict Resolution: Primate Psychology IV
The book sets out its concern with the psychology of humans and other species by stating that although the word refers to mind and behaviour it is normally applied only to Homo sapiens whereas terms like comparative psychology, ethology, or just animal behaviour are used for all the rest. The author is very open to the value of drawing together information from many related disciplines, but his list as usual omits psychoanalysis, and all other psychotherapies. I have defined all these as being ethological sciences of the human psyche, there being no reason for dividing the applicability of words like psychology or animal behaviour and ethology between species.
In the chapter on conflict resolution there is an interesting item describing how juvenile rhesus macaques reared with stumptail macaques used the distinctive friendly conflict resolution techniques of that species, which I read as a confirmation of impressed behaviour patterns being a feature of the primate brain, which is not in conflict with the researchers ideas about social exposure and learning. The chapter ends with the comment that humans are amongst the most conciliatory of primate species at the dyadic level of interpersonal relations and as juveniles already show high rates of reconciliation. Human conflict resolution shows also a high rate of positive-sum outcomes when both parties benefit. All this makes sense as the outcome of the evolution of the anti-libidinal factor in the mother/infant dyad. The author ascribes it to cognitive development and the ability to put oneself in the other person's position and see their point of view. Or in terms of all that my book was about, to allow consciousness to enter the intrapsychic structure, the introject, the image, impressed by associating with, or observing, the other person, and experience that "other" reality. |
