The influence of social hierarchy on primate health - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):648-52.

doi: 10.1126/science.1106477.

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Review

The influence of social hierarchy on primate health

Robert M Sapolsky. Science. 2005.

Abstract

Dominance hierarchies occur in numerous social species, and rank within them can greatly influence the quality of life of an animal. In this review, I consider how rank can also influence physiology and health. I first consider whether it is high- or low-ranking animals that are most stressed in a dominance hierarchy; this turns out to vary as a function of the social organization in different species and populations. I then review how the stressful characteristics of social rank have adverse adrenocortical, cardiovascular, reproductive, immunological, and neurobiological consequences. Finally, I consider how these findings apply to the human realm of health, disease, and socioeconomic status.

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