Durham University: Chimpanzees catch friendly behaviours

The study by Durham University researchers at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia found that positive behaviours such as grooming and play can spread among group members.

This suggests that these behaviours may strengthen social bonds and increase group harmony.

The study, published in the journal 'PLOS ONE', expands our understanding of social contagion, which is often thought to relate mostly to negative or neutral behaviours, by showing how positive social actions can also ripple through a community.

Chimpanzees, much like humans, exhibit social and emotional awareness, and their behaviours can be influenced by observing others.

In the study, individuals were more likely to begin grooming or playing after watching another chimp engage in the same activity.

Littlejones and Longjohn observed grooming, part of a Durham University study of chimp behaviour (Image: Dr Jake Brooker)

Importantly, grooming contagion tended to occur more frequently between close social partners, a pattern found with other empathic behaviours.

Play contagion, on the other hand, was especially pronounced in younger chimpanzees, who often rely on play as a primary form of socialisation.

The findings suggest that behavioural contagion may be an important mechanism underlying group dynamics in social animals, helping to maintain harmony and cooperative relationships.

Lead author of the study, Georgia Sandars of Durham University, said: "Researching basic social processes in chimpanzees allows us to better understand healthy social functioning in our ape relatives, and gives insights into the evolution of human sociality."

Researchers noted that these processes in chimpanzees could provide a model for understanding the evolutionary roots of human social behaviour and empathy.

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By highlighting the role of positive emotional contagion in a non-human primate species, the study invites further exploration into how similar processes operate across animal species, potentially shaping group living and social stability.

The study was conducted in a naturalistic, non-invasive manner, strictly adhering to ethical guidelines, and it involved more than 200 hours of observation of 41 chimpanzees.

This research underscores the adaptability of primates in social interaction and offers significant contributions to fields studying animal behaviour, empathy, and social bonding.