Dynamics of Hierarchy Formation: the Sequential Development of Dominance Relationships

Abstract

A method for investigating the behavioral sequences used in forming dominance hierarchies is presented. There are four possible sequences for the formation of the first two dominance relationships in groups of three individuals (triads). Designating the winner in the first relationship formed as the initial dominant, the loser as the initial subordinate, and the animal not involved as the bystander, the four possible sequences are: (1) the initial dominants goes on to dominate the bystander (Double Dominance), (2) the bystander later dominates the initial subordinate (Double Subordinance), (3) the bystander later dominates the initial dominant (Bystander Dominates Initial Dominant), and (4) the initial subordinate later dominates the bystander (Initial Subordinate Dominates Bystander). Although each sequence has an equal probability of occurrence if dominance relationships are formed randomly, two of the sequences have different implications for the formation of the empirically common linear and near linear hierarchies than the other two. Linear and near linear hierarchies are, by definition, composed of all or nearly all triads with transitive dominance relationships (A dominates B, B dominates C, and A dominates C), while hierarchies far from linearity have many triads with intransitive relationships (A dominates B, B dominates C, and C dominates A). Double Dominance and Double Subordinance sequences guarantee the formation of triads with transitive dominance relationships,…