| Abstract: | Offensive, defensive, and nonagonistic social behaviors of resident male mice toward unfamiliar intruders were examined during exposure to the novel odors of chocolate or sheep's wool. Both novel odors reduced lateral attacks and boxing when compared to familiar sawdust odor. Chocolate, but not sheep's wool, also reliably increased flight behavior by residents. Neither social behaviors nor self-grooming were affected by these odors. The novel odors had no effect upon, or actually decreased, the defensive responses of intruders towards residents. The equivalent effectiveness of both predator and nonpredator odors in elevating risk assessment and suppressing attack during firsttime exposure, and the decreased potency of cat odors following repeated exposure, suggests that novelty contributes to the enhanced defensiveness seen among subjects during initial exposure to predator odors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
