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Bonobos and chimpanzees overlap in sexual behaviour patterns during social tension
Jake S Brooker1, Christine E Webb2, Edwin J C van Leeuwen3,4
1Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
Royal Society Open Science
|March 6, 2025
Summary
Bonobos and chimpanzees both use genital contact during social tension, similar to humans. This behavior, likely present in our last common ancestor, aids cooperation and conflict management.
Area of Science:
- Primate Behavior
- Evolutionary Anthropology
- Social Biology
Background:
- Genital contact during social tension is observed in bonobos and chimpanzees.
- This behavior is hypothesized to improve social cohesion and manage conflict.
- Direct comparisons between these sister species are limited, potentially leading to misunderstandings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically compare genital and non-genital affiliative behaviors in bonobos and chimpanzees.
- To investigate the role of genital contact in post-conflict and pre-feeding social contexts.
- To explore demographic influences on these social behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Direct observation of sanctuary-living bonobos and chimpanzees.
- Comparison of affiliative behaviors during post-conflict and experimentally induced pre-feeding contexts.
- Analysis of both genital and non-genital social interactions.
Main Results:
- Bonobos exhibited more genital contact than chimpanzees in post-conflict situations.
- Both species showed comparable levels of genital contact during pre-feeding affiliation.
- Female bonobos and male chimpanzees were key initiators of pre-feeding genital contact, with demographic factors also influencing behavior.
Conclusions:
- Chimpanzees and bonobos display significant overlap in the use of genital contact during social tension.
- The findings suggest that genital contact as a social tool may have been present in the last common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
- This behavior likely plays a role in cooperation and conflict resolution across these species.
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