Study Reveals Long-Tailed Macaques' Attraction to Social Conflict

A recent study led by Elisabeth H.M. Sterck, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Cognition at Utrecht University, examines the intriguing parallels between human and macaque responses to social conflict. Published in the journal *Animal Cognition* on July 9, 2025, the research highlights the behavioral tendencies of long-tailed macaques in response to videos depicting aggressive interactions among their peers. The study involved 28 macaques residing at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk, Netherlands, who were shown two-minute videos featuring conflict, grooming, running, and sitting activities. The findings demonstrate that the macaques were particularly fixated on videos of conflict, especially when the combatants were familiar members of their own troop.

According to Brad J. Bushman, co-author of the study and Professor of Communication at Ohio State University, the observed attraction to conflict may stem from an evolutionary perspective. "Both humans and other animals may be hardwired to pay attention to aggression because it is an adaptive response that increases survival," he noted. The results suggest that social awareness among macaques, much like humans, is heightened in the face of potential threats, especially for lower-ranking individuals who may become victims of aggression.

The research revealed that low-ranking and less aggressive macaques paid more attention to the conflict videos than their dominant counterparts. Sterck explained, "More dominant individuals can be more confident that aggression will not affect them; they don't have to pay attention to others as much," indicating that personality traits and social rank significantly influence observational behavior.

The study's methodology required the macaques to be isolated from their social groups during the video presentations, allowing researchers to measure their visual attention without external distractions. Notably, the macaques were more captivated by conflicts involving familiar faces compared to those involving strangers, reflecting a fundamental need for social connection and information among group members.

These findings align with existing research on human behavior, where studies have shown a similar preference for violent media and familiar actors. The implications of this study extend beyond mere observation; they offer insights into the evolutionary roots of social behavior in primates and suggest that understanding these dynamics can enhance our comprehension of human social interactions.

Given the similar patterns of attention to social conflict observed in both species, the study raises questions about the underlying psychological mechanisms and adaptive functions of such behaviors. As researchers continue to explore the intricacies of primate cognition, this study contributes to a growing body of evidence that bridges the gap between animal behavior and human psychology, emphasizing our shared evolutionary heritage and the significance of social dynamics in both realms.