猿类亲昵行为或可预防群体冲突

Hugs and kisses could help some primates keep the peace. Both chimpanzees and bonobos appear to use friendly physical touch as a way of easing tension among group members in stressful situations, researchers report in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Embraces, pats, handholding, genital touches, sticking fingers in each other’s mouths — these buddy-buddy behaviors form the social glue that helps groups stick together, says study coauthor Zanna Clay, a primatologist at Durham University in England. Hugs like the one shown between the chimpanzees Little Jake and Little Joey could help strengthen social bonds before times of stress. our ape relatives, Clay says. …