Effects of rearing on homosexual behavior in the male laboratory rat

Abstract

Thirty-six male laboratory rats were raised in one of three conditions: social isolation, sexual segregation, or cohabitation with females. Male interlopers introduced into the individual cages of adults elicited the most mounting and thrusting in isolates. Analysis of concomitant social behaviors suggests that the mounting functioned as a component of dominance processes; offensive postures and mounts correlated significantly in the group raised as isolates. © 1971, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.