Sex differences in wild chimpanzee behavior emerge during infancy
Elizabeth V Lonsdorf1, A Catherine Markham2, Matthew R Heintz3
1Department of Psychology and Biological Foundations of Behavior Program, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Plos One
|June 10, 2014
Summary
Male and female chimpanzees show early developmental sex differences in social behavior and motor skills. These findings in chimpanzees suggest ancient, biologically-based sex differences in human development.
Area of Science:
- Primate developmental biology
- Evolutionary psychology
- Comparative psychology
Background:
- Sex differences in human child development are influenced by biological and social factors.
- Chimpanzees offer insights into the evolutionary origins of human developmental patterns due to their close relation to humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze sex differences in wild chimpanzee infant development from birth to five years.
- To characterize age-related changes in nutritional, motor, and social behaviors.
- To identify specific behaviors exhibiting sex-based divergence.
Main Methods:
- Long-term observational study of 40 wild chimpanzee infants at Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
- Quantification of time spent on key developmental behaviors (nutritional, motor, social).
- Analysis of age-related behavioral changes and sex-specific patterns.
Main Results:
- Significant sex differences observed in social behavior, motor development, and spatial independence.
- Male chimpanzees exhibited greater physical precocity and earlier peak play behavior compared to females.
- Early sex differentiation suggests potential links to adult reproductive strategies.
Conclusions:
- Early sex differentiation in chimpanzee development is evident, mirroring patterns seen in humans.
- Biologically-based sex differences may predate modern parental influences and socialization.
- These findings support the hypothesis of ancient, conserved sex differences originating from a common ancestor.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Naturalistic Observations
15.2K
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...
15.2K
01:14Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
2.7K
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Exploration...
2.7K
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
421
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
421
01:20Attachment
790
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
790
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
545
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
545
00:54What is Behavior?
9.6K
Behaviors are actions that an organism engages in—they can be related to finding food, reproducing, defending against threats, and many other possible actions. Behaviors include activities related to the environment around the animal—such as migration—as well as social interactions within a species or population. Many behaviors involve motor output—that is, muscle movements—while others involve less visible actions, such as learning.
9.6K