Scientists
have now found out why unrelated chimpanzees interact or co-operate with each
other outside of a sexual relationship.
A team of famous international researchers provided evidence, that increased levels of the "love-hormone" oxytocin playes a big role in co-operation. They stated, that wild chimpanzees, which were part of a grooming session with a "bond partner" had shown higher levels of the oxytocin hormone in their urine, than after grooming with a "non bond partner". Whether they were related or not did not play role here. The results of this study were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Other scientists also test the oxytocin levels in wild chimps urine in uganda, after the grooming session had ended. The hormone oxytocin is associated with mother-child bonding, or released by touches and hugs. It has never really been stated that it was released in non-sexual interactions though. The relationships described above can be seen as friendships in the animal kindom.
It is proven that animals that have cooperative relationships do have increased rates of offspring survival and greater longevity.
When comparing these social bonds in chimps, to those bonds found in humans, it is to be said that even if humans are not in a sexual relationship, nor related, they still co-operate, communicate or interact. g the main story"And nobody really has a good explanation for how this can happen."
Findings of the study suggest a direct link between social bonds and co-operative behaviour.
For me personally this was very very interesting to read, because we had studied the hormone oxytocin in psychology before, so I know exactly what happens when this hormone is released, and how it affects the body. It was great being able to connect these two subjects and learning something new out of this. I also believe that it is obvious that the chimps probably interact with each other, even though they are not in a sexual relationship or related. Humans and chimps are quite similar, therefore they might show similar actions or behaviour.
A team of famous international researchers provided evidence, that increased levels of the "love-hormone" oxytocin playes a big role in co-operation. They stated, that wild chimpanzees, which were part of a grooming session with a "bond partner" had shown higher levels of the oxytocin hormone in their urine, than after grooming with a "non bond partner". Whether they were related or not did not play role here. The results of this study were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Other scientists also test the oxytocin levels in wild chimps urine in uganda, after the grooming session had ended. The hormone oxytocin is associated with mother-child bonding, or released by touches and hugs. It has never really been stated that it was released in non-sexual interactions though. The relationships described above can be seen as friendships in the animal kindom.
It is proven that animals that have cooperative relationships do have increased rates of offspring survival and greater longevity.
When comparing these social bonds in chimps, to those bonds found in humans, it is to be said that even if humans are not in a sexual relationship, nor related, they still co-operate, communicate or interact. g the main story"And nobody really has a good explanation for how this can happen."
Findings of the study suggest a direct link between social bonds and co-operative behaviour.
For me personally this was very very interesting to read, because we had studied the hormone oxytocin in psychology before, so I know exactly what happens when this hormone is released, and how it affects the body. It was great being able to connect these two subjects and learning something new out of this. I also believe that it is obvious that the chimps probably interact with each other, even though they are not in a sexual relationship or related. Humans and chimps are quite similar, therefore they might show similar actions or behaviour.
This was really interesting! We learned about oxytocin in psychology but I never really thought about it in animals so this was pretty cool.
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