Hugs and kisses could help primates keep the peace. A new study shows that chimps and bonobos might use friendly physical touch to calm each other in stressful situations.
Let’s learn about chimpanzees and bonobos
Chimpanzees and bonobos are part of a group of large tailless primates known as apes. They share embraces, pats and genital touches with their neighbors. They even hold hands and stick their fingers in each other’s mouths! Such buddy-buddy behaviors form the social glue that helps groups stick together, says Zanna Clay. A primate researcher, she works at Durham University in England.
Humans could learn a lesson about this love language from our ape relatives, she says. Physical touch might calm us and connect us more before intense moments. This could be useful for people attending sporting events or competitions. “Physical closeness is a really powerful way of managing stress,” Clay says.
Her team shared its findin...
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