Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
08:42
Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device (ALDM) Test Systems
Published on: May 5, 2015
Animal culture: chimpanzee conformity?
1Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. vschaik@aim.uzh.ch
Current Biology : CB
|May 26, 2012
Summary
Evidence for animal culture is growing, particularly in chimpanzees. New research indicates that chimpanzee culture may include a conformity element, similar to human social learning.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Ethology
- Cognitive Evolution
Background:
- The concept of culture in non-human animals is a topic of significant scientific interest.
- While many animal behaviors are transmitted socially, the criteria for defining 'culture' remain debated.
- Understanding animal culture provides insights into the evolution of human culture and social learning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the existing evidence for culture-like phenomena in wild animal populations.
- To investigate the presence and nature of social conformity in chimpanzee behavior.
- To compare the characteristics of animal culture with those of human culture.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of current research on animal culture, focusing on evidence quality.
- Analysis of novel observational data on chimpanzee social behavior and behavioral transmission.
- Comparative analysis of behavioral patterns across different chimpanzee communities.
Main Results:
- The evidence for culture-like phenomena in wild animals is variable, with some cases being more robust than others.
- New data from chimpanzees reveal patterns consistent with social conformity, where individuals adjust their behavior based on group norms.
- Chimpanzee social learning mechanisms show potential parallels with human cultural transmission.
Conclusions:
- While caution is warranted, the evidence suggests that some animal populations, notably chimpanzees, exhibit culture-like traits.
- The finding of conformity in chimpanzee culture adds a new dimension to our understanding of non-human social complexity.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the extent and implications of animal culture for evolutionary studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Conformity
Conformity is the change in a person’s behavior to go along with the group, even if that person does not agree with the group.
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
00:52Social Proof
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
02:20Milgram's Obedience to Authority
Obedience to authority is classically demonstrated in a more famous series of social psychology experiments performed by Stanley Milgram. He was a social psychology professor at Yale who was influenced by the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi war criminal. Eichmann’s defense for the atrocities he committed was that he was “just following orders.”
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...