Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Great Apes kiss and cuddle to keep the peace, says study
Our close relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, are both known for their
aggressiveness. They compete for food, partners, and position within their
group, and fight outsiders to protect their group and territory. In the
meantime, they often touch, embrace, and kiss each other to show affection and
friendliness as humans do. Interestingly, they also seem to use social touch to
manage tension, competition, and cooperation. A recent observation of chimps
and bonobos in African sanctuaries found that before they were given scheduled food,
they engaged in close contact with each other. Researchers assume that they
touched and hugged each other to mitigate the tension of food competition. A peaceful act
before a stressful event. Indeed, social touch was part of communication exchanged
before languages were developed. Even today, we often shake hands, hug, or kiss
each other socially before meetings and events.
Read the article and learn how physical contact helps social bonds.
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