How do great apes maintain harmony? A gentle touch, a warm embrace, or even a playful interaction can significantly contribute.
Recent research indicates that both chimpanzees and bonobos utilize physical affection as a means to foster “social tolerance” and prevent unnecessary conflicts in anticipation of stressful scenarios.
Their diplomatic strategies involve hugs, kisses, pats, and even playful nibbles.
“All of these behaviors and more,” explained lead author Jake Brooker during an interview with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. “They also engage in a fair amount of genital touching.”
The results — published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences — provide fresh insights into how these close relatives of humans nurture strong social connections during challenging periods.
Pre-snack cuddles
Brooker, who is a psychologist and researcher of great apes at Durham University, noted that scientists were already aware that great apes offer comforting touch to one another after conflicts.
“When an individual is visibly upset, we often observe that many onlookers approach to provide comforting contact, similar to human behavior,” he remarked.
However, he pointed out that researchers began to notice these affectionate actions occurring “in other stressful contexts as well.”
They appeared to become particularly affectionate when faced with threats from outside groups, Brooker added — or just before mealtime.
“Great apes experience significant stress in their lives,” he stated. “They can encounter a great deal of internal group tension and stress, especially around competition for resources.”
Two orphan juvenile bonobos in the study wrap their arms around each other. (Zanna Clay/Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary)
To investigate this behavior, researchers observed five groups of semi-wild bonobos and chimpanzees residing in sanctuaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
They began providing peanuts to the primates at regular intervals, allowing them to anticipate feeding times, and then watched their interactions during the five minutes leading up to snack time.
“We noted that they engaged in many of these behaviors right up to the moment they anticipated being fed,” Brooker explained. “Our findings indicated that those who exchanged the most contact were also the ones who managed to share the food afterwards.”
By fostering trust beforehand, the apes can prevent disputes over food, the study concludes. This ultimately allows them to enjoy their meals more and for longer durations.
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However, like humans, social dynamics among these apes can be complex.
One group of chimpanzees did not follow the trend and showed no connection between pre-snack cuddling and peaceful eating. The authors of the study suggest that specific group histories and past conflicts may influence how positive touch is practiced within a group.
Chimps defy their bad reputation
Julie Teichroeb, a primatologist at the University of Toronto, finds it particularly noteworthy that both chimpanzees and bonobos exhibited this positive touching behavior.
This is significant since chimps are often perceived as much more aggressive compared to their bonobo relatives.
For instance, bonobos are known to collaborate with external groups, while chimps frequently engage in intense rivalries between groups, sometimes to the point of civil war.
“These two species are often compared due to their vastly different levels of aggression toward out-group individuals, making it intriguing that they both utilize touch similarly to enhance within-group tolerance,” Teichroeb, who was not part of the research, shared via email with CBC.
“This increases the possibility that our common ancestors also employed similar strategies to reduce social conflicts.”
Male chimpanzee Sims, left, gently nibbles on female Careen’s hand, a form of contact common during tense competitive situations in chimpanzees. (Jake Brooker/Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust)
Interestingly, the study revealed that chimps tended to engage in more affectionate behaviors than bonobos, and were more likely to partake in higher-risk interactions, such as gentle bites or inserting fingers into one another’s mouths. This was particularly prevalent among males.
“This indicates that species with higher aggression levels may need to show greater reassurance to foster social tolerance,” Teichroeb noted.
The takeaway? Embrace your friends
Brooker believes there is an important lesson for humans.
“I recall during school that it was often discouraged for boys to engage in any form of physical contact with their friends. It was viewed quite negatively,” he said.
“When it involves friends who share a deep understanding, such contact can significantly enhance communication and bonding. It’s something that people might be overlooking.”
