Social status predicts self-directed behaviors, contingent on broader social dynamics

Emotional states like anxiety are adaptive, preparing individuals to respond to (socially-)aversive situations. Adult humans can self-report anxiety, but assessing comparable states in animals requires objective measures. Self-directed behaviors (SDBs)—including self-scratch, autogroom, and yawn—are indicators of anxiety across species, particularly in nonhuman primates. Prevailing hypotheses suggest that social status modulates SDBs, as they offer predictability. Yet, it remains untested how broader social dynamics influence SDBs, given that they influence the quality of life of individuals. We studied 13 macaque groups across six species spanning four social styles (despotic—egalitarian). Our findings revealed partial correlational consistency among the elemental behaviors constituting composite SDB measures, highlighting their differential functions. Age and sex were associated with self-scratch and yawn. Individuals receiving more aggression self-scratched more frequently. While the most despotic species tended to exhibit least amounts of SDBs, within species′ rank effects were non-linear. High-ranking individuals self-scratched less but yawned more, and alpha status was linked to increased yawning. This suggests (un)certainty in social interactions—mediated by individual rank and societal structure—influence anxiety. Thus, SDBs are not byproducts of subordination, instead reflect partially overlapping emotional responses. We provide insights into how social structure and complexity shape the evolution of emotion regulation.