160 



John B. Calhoun 



do in fact exist. This elaboration of Schaefer's circumplex life-space im- 

 mediately brought recall of a striking transitory change in behavior which 

 regularly occurs in structured, dense, socially closed systems of domesti- 

 cated Norway rat populations. 



When these populations have been permitted to attain a density of 60 

 to 100 adults in a space ideal for 40 or fewer adults, an extremely rigid 

 social structure develops. All rats "know" their place and aggressive ac- 

 tions terminating in some individuals receiving even moderate-sized 

 wounds become markedly reduced. Threat and avoidance becomes the 

 predominant pattern where aggression and imposition of sanctions di- 



Table XVII 



Change of "Attitude" toward d-GENEs Affecting Shifts into the Secondary 

 Life-Space of the 2nd and 4th Quadrants 



Initial change 



cZ-Gene Interaction of 



involved neighboring poles Quadrant 



5'"*^ oriented to recessive Recessive Control-acceptance 2nd 

 <i-genes 



S'^"'! oriented to dominant Dominant Autonomy-rejection 4th 

 d-genes 



S^^^ oriented to recessive Recessive Autonomy-rejection 4th 

 d-genes 



(S'"' oriented to dominant Dominant Control-acceptance 2nd 

 d genes 



rected toward maintaining status roles is involved. And yet in six of seven 

 such populations studied, one or several males went temporarily berserk. 

 Each such male abruptly began attacking all other members of the popu- 

 lation except those that behaved as they did. They inflicted deep slashing 

 gashes on the bodies and tails of associates of all ages and both sexes until 

 fresh blood could persistently be observed splattered about the habitat. 



For any particular rat such episodes persisted from one to several days 

 and since usually several males were involved the total period of such dis- 

 turbance might last up to 6 weeks. In every instance these bursts of males 

 going berserk followed a period of at least three months during which the 

 investigator had removed all young prior to weaning. Then a new genera- 

 tion of young were permitted to survive. The period of males going berserk 



