Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
04:51
A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
Published on: July 8, 2025
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) consolation: third-party identity as a window on possible function
Teresa Romero1, Frans B M de Waal
1Living Links Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University. t.romero@soken.ac.jp
Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|August 11, 2010
Summary
Chimpanzees offer consolation to friends after conflicts, suggesting this behavior reduces stress rather than repairing relationships or protecting the self. This highlights the importance of social bonds in primate interactions.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Animal cognition
- Social behavior in chimpanzees
Background:
- Consolation, or postconflict affiliative contact, is debated as a potential indicator of empathy in great apes.
- The precise function of consolation behavior in chimpanzees remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of consolation in chimpanzees.
- To test predictions regarding bystander identity in consolation.
- To differentiate between the stress reduction, opponent relationship repair, and self-protection hypotheses.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1102 agonistic interactions and postconflict periods in captive chimpanzees.
- Observation of bystander contact with recipients of aggression.
- Comparison of consolation patterns based on social relationships.
Main Results:
- Chimpanzees were more likely to receive consolation from their own "friends" than from "friends" of the aggressor.
- Frequent targets of aggression did not offer consolation more often than others.
- Findings support the stress reduction hypothesis over alternative explanations.
Conclusions:
- Consolation in chimpanzees primarily serves to reduce stress for the recipient.
- Relationship quality is a key factor influencing the occurrence of consolation.
- The study provides evidence against relationship repair or self-protection as primary drivers of consolation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Personal Identity
Personal identity is the deeply felt sense of self that individuals cultivate over time, intricately woven from intrinsic qualities they consider essential to their existence—qualities such as morality, intelligence, and friendliness. These attributes serve as vital internal benchmarks, guiding individuals in evaluating whether their actions resonate with their true selves.When personal identity takes center stage in one's life, individuals often emphasize their distinctiveness, highlighting...
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
01:21Role-Based Identity
Role-based identities are central to understanding how individuals navigate social environments by adopting distinct self-conceptions aligned with various societal roles. These identities are not fixed traits but are constructed through personal actions and the social feedback individuals receive in context-specific interactions. Each social role, such as student, teacher, or friend, carries a set of expectations and norms that influence how people think, feel, and behave within that...
01:23Implicit Personality Theories
Implicit personality theory explains how individuals make assumptions about the relationships between personality traits, behaviors, and character types. When people learn that someone possesses a particular trait, they tend to infer the presence of other related characteristics, forming a cohesive impression. This cognitive shortcut plays a crucial role in social interactions and interpersonal judgments.Central Traits and Their InfluenceSolomon Asch's seminal 1946 study highlighted the power...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...