Personality links with lifespan in chimpanzees

Drew M. Altschul; William D. Hopkins; Elizabeth S. Herrelko; Miho Inoue-Murayama; Tetsuro Matsuzawa; James E. King; Stephen R. Ross; Alexander Weiss

doi:10.7554/eLife.33781

Personality links with lifespan in chimpanzees

Drew M. Altschul, William D. Hopkins, Elizabeth S. Herrelko, Miho Inoue-Murayama, Tetsuro Matsuzawa, James E. King, Stephen R. Ross, Alexander Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Life history strategies for optimizing individual fitness fall on a spectrum between maximizing reproductive efforts and maintaining physical health over time. Strategies across this spectrum are viable and different suites of personality traits evolved to support these strategies. Using data from 538 captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) we tested whether any of the dimensions of chimpanzee personality – agreeableness, conscientiousness, dominance, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness – were associated with longevity, an attribute of slow life history strategies that is especially important in primates given their relatively long lives. We found that higher agreeableness was related to longevity in males, with weaker evidence suggesting that higher openness is related to longer life in females. Our results link the literature on human and nonhuman primate survival and suggest that, for males, evolution has favored the protective effects of low aggression and high quality social bonds.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e33781
Journal	eLife
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.33781
State	Published - Oct 2018
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
General Immunology and Microbiology
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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10.7554/eLife.33781

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abstract = "Life history strategies for optimizing individual fitness fall on a spectrum between maximizing reproductive efforts and maintaining physical health over time. Strategies across this spectrum are viable and different suites of personality traits evolved to support these strategies. Using data from 538 captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) we tested whether any of the dimensions of chimpanzee personality – agreeableness, conscientiousness, dominance, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness – were associated with longevity, an attribute of slow life history strategies that is especially important in primates given their relatively long lives. We found that higher agreeableness was related to longevity in males, with weaker evidence suggesting that higher openness is related to longer life in females. Our results link the literature on human and nonhuman primate survival and suggest that, for males, evolution has favored the protective effects of low aggression and high quality social bonds.",

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AU - Hopkins, William D.

AU - Herrelko, Elizabeth S.

AU - Inoue-Murayama, Miho

AU - Matsuzawa, Tetsuro

AU - King, James E.

AU - Ross, Stephen R.

AU - Weiss, Alexander

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Personality links with lifespan in chimpanzees

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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