Psychologists from Durham University’s Department of Psychology investigated it in a new study. In comparing bonobos and chimpanzees, they found these two close relatives exhibit remarkable congruence in their empathic comforting abilities. Dr. Jake Brooker, the research’s lead at University of Kent, England, studied 90 apes living in sanctuaries. The research revealed the dramatic differences between these species in their response to the panic of their neighbors. This large scale observation covered over 1,400 hours. Surprisingly, it indicated variations in empathic comforting occur more within species than between species.
The study focused on naturally occurring moments of distress, such as fights among the apes, to assess their comforting behaviors. In real life, I got to observe 40 bonobos up close at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I observed 50 chimpanzees at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia. Through this detailed research, the authors aimed to deepen the understanding of social interactions and emotional responses among these closely related species.
Insights into Empathic Behaviors
The study’s results show that bonobos and chimpanzees intervened to comfort the others. They did it at comparable rates when they observed distress. The researchers recognized key variances within each species in the extent to which individuals exhibited these comforting behaviors. In bonobos, for example, the younger individuals were more likely to initiate comforting others and more likely to seek consolation themselves. This indicates a developmental component to empathic behaviors that deserves more research.
According to Dr. Brooker, learning about these emotional behaviors provides important information about the social lives of bonobos and chimpanzees. This article adds evidence that both species respond to the distress in powerful and impactful ways. Yet, there is more internal variability, or variability within each species. This might indicate that experiences on a personal level and social dimensions of the socio-cultural environment profoundly shape empathic patterns.
Methodology of the Study
To carry out this detailed investigation, scientists carefully tracked their movements and interactions, aiming to capture impromptu displays of anguish from the apes. That nature backdrop made it possible to capture what’s probably the most realistic depiction yet of how these majestic animals really clash in emotionally charged duel. Instead, the researchers used an observational approach to see true reactions without the use of contrived stressors.
The study’s scope was indeed massive, 1,400 hours spent observing the apes in two separate sanctuaries. This long duration of time allowed for the creation of a powerful dataset. In addition, scientists are able to make important inferences regarding the empathic behaviors of these closely related primates. The captive bonobos and chimpanzees were highly heterogeneous. This diversity provided an exciting opportunity to see how they move through the world and engage with others.
Publication and Implications
The researchers detailed their findings in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. This larger work constitutes an important figure in the field of primatology as well. Study senior author Professor Zanna Clay said their finding reinforces the idea that empathic behaviors are [emphasis added]. She argued that things like consolation are not simply human qualities, they are widespread among our nearest animal kin as well.
Unfortunately, the implications of this study go beyond just a fascinating observation. They dispute common perceptions regarding neuroscientific empathy in non-human animals. The study found that bonobos and chimpanzees consoled their partners at comparable frequencies. It points to cognitive individual differences, pushing us to reconsider the ways that we measure and conceptualize empathy across different species.