Personality in captive chimpanzees: Use of a novel rating procedure

Abstract

We present a new method to assess the personalities of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Using individually generated bipolar constructs, experienced observers rated the personalities of chimpanzees on a five-point scale. Each observer chose a subset of his/her own constructs and we performed a separate factor analysis on each set of ratings. The analyses indicate four factors: dominance, sociability, machiavellianism, and anxiety. We propose that this factor structure will be useful in the development of a single rating instrument with which to assess the personalities of captive chimpanzees.