Animal Groups, Power in

Power processes in animal groups are strikingly similar to those in human groups. In both animal and human contexts, power is an individual's relative capacity to modify others' states by providing or withholding resources or administering punishments. Power is contingent on the actual resources and punishments an individual can deliver to others but is also much more. Social species vary with regard to the complexity of power relationships. In many higher mammals, individuals have the cognitive capacity to recognize one another as individuals and to remember relative power differentials between group members. These animal groups can consist of 30 or more members. Thus, cognitive resources are directed toward the negotiation of power relationships.

Dominance motivation is defined by the drive to gain power. Dominance relationships build on information gathering about the power of opponents. It is important to distinguish power, dominance motivation, and dominance behavior. Individuals with high dominance motivation are sensitive to cues of rank, seek out opportunities to influence others, and engage in more behaviors aimed at gaining and maintaining power, including ingratiating, competitive, and agonistic behavior and alliance formation. Such behaviors, though, may vary in their success in achieving power. Thus, although distinct, dominance motivation often predicts dominance behaviors, [Page 23]which in turn predicts attaining power if used effectively.

Dominance behavior is distinct from aggressive behavior, which is defined by intent to inflict harm. Dominance behaviors can involve aggressive strategies for taking resources and threatening subordinates, and so dominance motivation and aggressive behavior often co-occur. Nonetheless, prosocial strategies, such as reciprocity and cooperation, can also reflect dominance motives. Indeed, in primates, prosocial strategies, such as trading favors and allocating resources justly, appear to be necessary for establishing power. Dominant individuals have species-specific strategies for signaling their power to other group members. Group members are influenced by these signals and by their prior interactions with each other.