A study conducted across sanctuaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia has revealed that great apes employ physical contact as a tool for social regulation long before conflicts arise. By observing 116 bonobos and chimpanzees, researchers identified that these primates frequently engage in embracing, kissing, and patting when anticipating high-stakes events, such as the arrival of food.
The study utilized a "peanut swing" feeding task to observe social dynamics as anticipation built. Findings showed that individuals who engaged in friendly touch prior to the arrival of food were significantly more likely to feed peacefully alongside others. This behavior appears to function as a mechanism for maintaining social tolerance, which researchers describe as the foundation for cooperation.
The patterns of contact mirrored the specific social structures of each species. Among bonobos, female-female pairs were the primary participants, reflecting their society's reliance on female alliances. In contrast, male chimpanzees were the most frequent participants in such interactions, highlighting the importance of male coalitions. Notably, this behavior was most pronounced in groups with higher levels of social tolerance and diminished in those with authoritarian leadership.
The researchers suggest that these gestures, which can include highly vulnerable acts like placing hands in another's mouth, serve as signals of trust. Because this behavior is observed in both chimpanzees and bonobos—whose evolutionary lineages diverged from humans over 6 million years ago—the study concludes that the use of reassuring touch to manage social stress is an ancient trait that predates the human species.
Source: The Conversation
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