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Similarities between human and chimpanzee behavior
, behavioral differences between chimps and bonobos
, behavioral differences between chimps and bonobos
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Bonobos v. Chimpanzees: What can we learn about behavior during scarcity?
In her article “In the Bonobo World, Female Camaraderie Prevails,” Natalie Angier describes primatologists’ findings about bonobos, both in captivity and in the wild. Bonobos and chimpanzees are humans’ closest relatives. Chimpanzees and bonobos, not surprisingly, are sister species, but their behavioral patterns and societal structures are significantly different. Chimpanzees form patriarchal groupings in which female friendship or alliance is uncommon. They’re aggressive prone to violence among themselves. Bonobos “[defy] the standard primate rulebook.” The bonobos form matriarchal groups in wherein female bonobos “often [band] together to fend off male aggression.” The bonobos also use sexual contact as a means by which to settle disagreements, ease tensions, and show respect. Angier writes about the bonobos through a heavily human lens; she describes pacts, “girl-on-girl frottage”, sorority, and matchmaking. This creative license undercuts the very real scientific research Angier describes, making it difficult upon the first reading to discern fact from anthropomorphized fiction. However, upon rereading it becomes evident that bonobos and chimps actually
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Because of the abundance in their habitat, it has been hypothesized that females could forage within eyesight of one another without the need to fight, eventually resulting in affiliative behavior, displays of reciprocal respect, and kinship. This observation can be applied to humans as well: in wealthy societies, people tend to treat one another amicably, while in harsher circumstances, we resort to a more ‘every man for himself’
A Primate’s Memoir, written by Robert Sapolsky, documents the author’s time in Kenya while he studied the various behaviors of a troop of baboons. One of the key aspects of the book was the social rank that developed within the troop. Female baboons have a social hierarchy that is fairly cut and dry. The eldest baboons in the troop are considered the higher-ranking females, and as the baboons get younger, so to follows the string of dominance. The ranking for males was essentially from the strongest baboons to the weakest baboons. The baboon at the top of the social hierarchy was considered the alpha male. This social rank has huge implications for the troop in regards to which baboons mated with each other. If another baboon wanted to become the alpha male, then he would have to challenge the current alpha male to a fight, and win. The baboon’s distinct personality mixed with their instincts are the primary factors for where one lands on the social hierarchy. Another key aspect of the book was the strategies that took place when the baboons wanted to mate with another baboon. Similar to humans, the baboon males tried to impress the female baboons in a way that would make them want to mate. The rank of the male is considered to be one of the greatest factors contributing to what mate they end up with, because there is nothing more impressive than becoming a high-ranking baboon. Also, there were instances of lower-ranking baboons strategizing and forming teams with other baboons to become a higher ranking baboon for the mating possibilities. The baboons in the group are considered a patch-work of different troops, as it is common for one baboon to move to different groups frequently.
...er after birth than the common Chimpanzee, and unlike sterile and young Chimpanzees, Bonobos who can’t conceive still engage in sexual activities.
Although the practice of collecting animals have been present since 2500 B.C (Dunlap and Kellert), efforts to keep animals in a safe and natural habitat have been poorly consummated. Psychological manipulation has consequentially drawn chimpanzees to mental illness, as in the article “How Abnormal Is the Behavior of Captive, Zoo-Living Chimpanzees?” Lucy P. Birkett and Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher wrote, “Many chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) kept in laboratory housing settings show a variety of serious behavioral abnormalities, such as, repetitive rocking, drinking of urine, or self-mutilation.” Social and maternal separation for the benifit of reasearch are linked to psychological traumatic as well (Dunlap and Kellert). Although through history the service of zoos have been for entertainment, it is a trivial reason for holding chimpanzees in confidment. Subsequently, it is inhumane to take primates from the wild and place them in a zoo, commercial, or laboratory setting, which strips them of their ability to act naturally.
Thesis Statement: Despite the rampant protests of animal welfare organizations on encaging primates in zoos since primates typically show abnormal behavior, zoos in the National Capital Region claim that human interaction and enrichment programs help alleviate the stress and trauma primates experience.
Elizabeth Cashdan addresses the question of territoriality among human forager groups, specifically comparing four Bushman groups. She argues that territoriality should occur only in places where the benefits will outweigh the costs. Introducing the scientific definition of territoriality in animals, she first claims that animals tend to be the most territorial when they have adequate food and other resources. It is when there is a severe lack of or abundance of resources that animals are not territorial. With a lack of food, territoriality tends to waste too much energy. In the case of an abundance of food, it is not worth defending that which is plentiful for animals. She points out predictability as another environmental factor: if a resource is unpredictable, then it is not economical to defend it. It is only worthwhile to defend a territory if there is high probability that the resources will still be available when they are wanted. However, the costs and benefits of being territorial not only depend on the environment, but also on the species and its characteristics.
Throughout situations and research conducted by not only Robert Sapolsky or Jane Goodman, but from many other credited sources, we can blatantly see the, if not identical, similarities between the two species of humans and baboons. The most apparent likewise characteristics of this can be read and documented in Professor Sapolsky’s book, A Primate’s Memoirs. Sapolsky, who spent hundreds if not thousands, of hours studying these Savanna Baboons, sheds a vast insight into ideas of social dominance, mating strategies, instinctual prowess, community settings, hygiene, and reform of an entire generation; many of which can be unknowingly seen directly in the common occurrence of a humans daily life. One of the biggest ideals shown throughout history is the need for power and dominance.
“Men are dogs.” “Don’t be a chicken.” “She is sneaky like a snake.” These are common idioms that are spoken today among our society, but one question is comes to mind. Are humans and animals more similar than we think? Some would declare the only difference between human and animals is that animals lack verbal communication. According to Jill McCorkle’s book, Creatures of Habit, she explains the variations of similar characteristics between both, humans and animals. McCorkle uses sociobiology to develop her story titles in connection with the animal counterparts. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Science, “sociobiology” is defined as “the study of the evolution of social behavior in all organisms, including human beings.” By using sociobiology, this gives the reader a better insight on the connection between humans and animals. Throughout my essay, I will select several short stories and illustrate the similar characteristic between humans and animals.
Chimpanzees portray their emotions through a number of facial expressions and mannerisms. Just like humans, they undergo mood swings, jealous rages, and laughter. For instance, Goodall observed during her research that a male gorilla “would threaten [me] with an upward and backward movement jerk of his head…” Some of their emotions are easy to read, while at other times we have to look at multiple places on their faces to understand their feelings. A chimpanzee also uses its facial expressions and sounds to communicate with each other, such as hoots and yells.
Due to their close evolutionary relationship to humans, chimpanzees and bonobos have been widely studied and used as models for the behavior of early hominids. In recent years, new information regarding the social behaviors and ecology of bonobos has come to light, and this has warranted many interspecific comparisons between bonobos and chimpanzees: “Chimpanzees have been characterized in terms of their intercommunity warfare, meat eating, infanticide, cannibalism, male status-striving, and dominance over females. Bonobos, meanwhile, have been portrayed as the ‘Make love, not war’ ape, characterized by female power-sharing, a lack of aggression between either individuals or groups, richly elaborated sexual behavior that occurs without the constraint of a narrow window of fertility, and the use of sex for communicative purposes” (Stanford 399). Over the course of this paper, I will provide evidence for the dichotomy between these two species, with particular attention to the histories of their research, the nature of their social interactions, as well as their sexual behaviors.
In this essay I am going to be talking about the overall anthropoid, and using that to elaborate further into a comparison essay. After viewing /observing and doing extensive research on the three primates I, came to a conclusion that there are many similarities between the three primates, however humans create a border line advancement out of the primitive customs and they tend to be more autonomic than that which monkeys and apes posses. These claims are proven through various aspects that will be covered in the body paragraphs.
Monkey see, monkey do. Apes have always been thought to have an increased level of intelligence. Over the years, researchers have attempted to understand the degree of intelligence these primates possess. However, it is essential to understand the definition of intelligence in order to determine the amount of intelligence primates have. Intelligence is the capability of obtaining knowledge and being able to utilize it in everyday situations. There are many hypotheses that focus on the evolution of intelligence in primates that view a number of factors including brain size and modernism. Primate intelligence has been a topic of interest to many because it will allow us to further understand the close relationship between humans and primates. Additionally, we will be able to understand the difference between human and primate cognition. Some studies suggest that the human and primate brains possess many similarities. This demonstrates why primates tend to respond to stimuli in a manner that is closely related to humans. Researchers have conducted a number of studies in an effort to understand primate cognition.
As stated in the article, “each ape’s social success depends on what other group members are up to, natural selection has favored the capacity for social maneuvers and [superior intelligence]” (2). Natural selection also favors apes because they are not ones to dwell or hold grudges on other apes when they get into feuds. Frans de Waal, a primatologist at the Arnheim Zoo in the Netherlands, shows how natural selection has also promoted the ability to strengthen the relationships of others. In his example, he gives an account of Mama, the most influential female in the colony, who would reconcile other apes after they got into
This way of life is found to be very similar to the way nonhuman primates live. The kinship between smaller communities of nonhuman primates is also very similar to the formation of human social groups. Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest ancestors, and their pair-bonding mating system and societal organization shows similarities in humans. Kinship between nonhuman primates shows many forming primate groups in relation to an in increase in survival and reproduction. These nonhuman primates form groups in order for reproduction and stability which is a very similar human trait. These nonhuman primate groups allow advancements in food production and the sharing of food. The way nonhuman primates manage and disperse their food is a very similar human trait. There are many similar communication aspects found in chimpanzees that are similar to humans. Their use of communication allows for successful bonding, food production, and cooperation within the species. They have ability to show These cognitive skills are found in human evolution, but at a more advanced level. Tool making is another trait found in chimpanzees that is in relation to humans. The cooperation among nonhuman primates, many come from the monkey
Chimpanzees (Figure 1) are the closest living relatives to us, and they share 99 percent of our DNA (1). Chimpanzees have distinct group territoriality. Male chimpanzees “patrol” near the boundary between the two ranges, at that time they move very carefully and quietly, and they can cease to listen and observe the range of their neighbors. Patrolling individuals are likely to face cruel and violent attacks, injuries, and even deaths. Intense excitement and aggressive display can occur if the two parties of two communities encounter each other. Usually, the larger group holds its ground, and interaction between different chimpanzees communities may also lead to gang attack. Expanding the community range is necessary to their social organizations, the males cooperation can defend the territory and increase the reproductive rates of the resident females by excluding female and male competitors. Body contact is common in their social life such as grooming (1). Usually, chimpanzees groom each other as a way to show harmony and solidarity in their society (Figure 2). Grooming each other demonstrates the deep bonds and close relationship between them. In addition, they can even hug, hold hands, touch, kiss each other as a way of emotional expression (2).
With bonobos having a very similar look to chimpanzees, with both species equally sharing almost 99% of their DNA with human beings, they possess many human-like qualities. Bonobos also possess different physical qualities than chimpanzees, generally being darker and leaner. The bonobo society is usually led by females having a peaceful tendency, making them different than most of their relative species. Their etymology tells us that their scientific name is Pan paniscus, of the Pan genus (Balcombe 2011). Though bonobos were formerly known as pygmy chimpanzees, there is speculation as to where the name had originated. Some believe that the name describes their unusual small size compared to chimpanzees while others derive it from the area of which they live in which is also populated by the pygmy peoples (Groves 2005).