172 



John B. Calhoun 



Assuming the validity of all assumptions inherent in Eqs. (124) to 

 ( 126) we can now approximate the No of the lA society of rats. The regres- 

 sion curve for lA shown in Fig. 38 gives v^°^^^ = 38. Insertion of successive 

 values of Nb in Eqs. (124) and (125) shows that when No = 9, 

 yjexpatA-6) = 1Q8 and z'i-^^" = 0.36. Since 0.36 X 108 = 38.9, it follows 

 that, for the strain of rat under the existing environmental conditions, 9 

 individuals approximate No for male rats. 



Now we may return to the "tranquilizing" effect by which vitamin A 

 "buffered" the 2A males from the velocity-inhibiting consequences of 

 A'' > Nb. There needs to be a correction factor in Eq. (126) which, as a 

 "tranquilizing" factor, Z, increases the slope of the velocity — velocity 

 rank curve also increases, "pivoting" about Vm. At present there is no 



I Z v-0.5 



Fig. 39. Hj^jothetical effect of group size, A^, and tranquilizer, Z, on velocity, v, 

 when A'^6 = 12. 



a -priori basis for determining this Z factor, which can draw upon empirical 

 evidence. However, one can visualize a likely formulation of Z. Z implies a 

 factor "blinding" awareness of the d or ^("^ of associates. Such perceptual 

 blinding conforms with the cV factor of ix' = d'v'/A', previously alluded to. 

 The critical issue concerns the influence of Z upon r„. If the velocity of the 

 first-ranked alpha individual never exceeds that appropriate at Nb, that is, 

 if 



: = I'M = 1.0, 



(A' 6) = 



then we would have a partial basis for understanding how Z alters v. 



In the absence of adequate empirical data regarding the function of Z 

 on V, consideration of hypothetical relationships (Fig. 39) will facilitate 

 our understanding to the point of enabling the design of critical experi- 



