ISOLATION EFFECT IN MICE (MUS-MUSCULUS) .2. VARIANCE IN AGGRESSION

The hypothesis of dominant/territorial aggression on isolation-induced aggression was examined by comparing the behavior of isolated mice with that of familiar dominant mice. Familiar dominant mice showed as much aggression in an already known neutral space as the isolated mice. The behavioral sequences of aggression in the 2 groups showed both differences and similarities between each other. There was more variance in the aggressive behavior of the dominant mice. The differences were considered to be due to the effect of isolated housing, and the similarities were considered to be the change due to the occurrence of aggression. It is suggested that the isolated mice had a unique behavioral pattern.