Great Apes Kiss and Cuddle to Maintain Peace, Study Finds
Research shows that apes comfort each other during stressful situations.
1How Apes Cope with Stress
Scientists discovered that chimpanzees and bonobos use behaviors like touching, hugging, and kissing to comfort each other during stressful situations. These behaviors are particularly common before food conflicts.
2Surprising Findings
The study observed that even chimpanzees, known for their aggression, engaged in close contact, such as placing fingers in each other's mouths. These behaviors enhance trust and cooperation.
3Experimental Setup
Researchers designed an experiment mimicking natural feeding processes in sanctuaries in Congo and Zambia. Apes exhibited comforting behaviors like touching and hugging in the five minutes before food arrived.
4The Impact of Touch
Individuals who touched and hugged were more likely to access food and eat peacefully together. More tolerant groups showed higher levels of 'reassurance trains,' where multiple apes hugged in succession.
5Evolutionary Origins
Researchers suggest that using touch to build trust and cooperation dates back at least seven million years. These behaviors form the foundation of social tools humans use in stressful situations.
6Reflections on Human Behavior
Human behaviors like forming a football huddle or hugging teammates before a stressful event may be part of a social heritage millions of years old. This study sheds light on the evolutionary roots of social behaviors.
Original article: BBC News — Büyük Maymunlar Barışı Sağlamak İçin Sarılıyor ve Öpüyor