Because of their greater size and strength, adult males of many species have the greatest potential to injure members of a society. Societies must control aggression within the group in order to continue to function as cohesive units. Means must exist to modify and channel the aggression of maturing males. Dr. Bernstein believes that adult males contribute significantly to the socialization of adolescent males by punishing inappropriate aggressive behavior. Even when adult males play minor roles in the socialization of infants and juveniles, their role as socializing agents during adolescence may be essential to the control of male aggression, thus permitting peaceful social interaction among individuals of disparate sizes and abilities. Dr. Bernstein's research conducted during 1985 to 1987 demonstrated that adult male rhesus macaques are significantly more responsive to the aggressive behavior of adolescent and adult males than to aggressive behavior of females or younger males. His results suggested that selective interference by adult males modified the aggression of adolescent males. Adolescent males maturing in the absence of adult males showed abnormal aggressive patterns, in that they continued to act aggressively toward females, younger animals, and kin, as was typical when they were juveniles. During 1987, adolescent males (the "subject males") living in two normally constituted social groups lacking adult males are beginning to exceed the size of adult females. Dr. Bernstein will determine if their aggression toward these females and their young is greater than normal. He will then try to modify the aggressive behavior of these males, first by introducing normal subordinate adult males, who will display normal behavior, and later by introducing normal dominant adult males, who will display normal behavior and also be capable of interfering in the aggression of the subject males. Dr. Bernstein believes that the first case will provide adult-male models, but that this will not be sufficient to alter the behavior of the subject males. In the second case, he believes that the dominant adult males will punish abnormal patterns of aggression directed against females, and that this socializing experience will modify the participation of the subject males in aggressive interactions with the group.
