What Makes Apes So Special?

One of the most important features in the development of social organization for non-human primates is reciprocity. Reciprocity is kind of a “you scratch my back – I’ll scratch yours” mentality. If chimpanzee A shares with chimpanzee B, it is expected that eventually chimpanzee B will return the favor by sharing with chimpanzee A. Even though the actions seem generous the motivations are often self-interested, though the notion of “self-interest” can be misleading, and will be cleared up in an article entitled “Sustainable Thinking #3: What is “Self” Interest.” Still, there is a principle of fairness that guides success in cooperation for primates. Many experiments and a growing body of research attest to this.

For example, two chimpanzees might have to work together to get a reward from researchers. Having a shared goal and sharing in the work, both feel that the reward should be shared as well. If the reward is unequal, both are apt to join in protest. By working together primates are able to get more done and get greater rewards.

Many non-human primates also exhibit empathy and the ability get in tune to each other’s emotions. If two monkeys get into a fight, some members of the group will console the loser. Chimpanzees are able to recognize anger or happiness based on images of other chimp faces on a computer. Sometimes chimps will have a disagreement and afterwards will, literally, kiss and make up. These kinds of expressions of sentimentality are fairly unique to apes (apes and monkeys are not the same – chimpanzee is an ape).

A touching display of empathy and emotional understanding comes from the Milwaukee Zoo. An older blind female chimp was introduced to the zoo and was unable to navigate the corridors of the zoo’s habitat whenever the caretakers would call for them. Recognizing her difficulty, a male chimp took her by the hand and would guide her to wherever she needed to go.

Acts like this are not too uncommon, but yet are still surprising. Seeing acts of such empathy are quite common amongst kin. A mother will fight for her young, cousins will put themselves between newborns and predators, and other things of this nature. It’s probably no coincidence that the primate brain, as developed as it is, would be capable of such empathy.

Amongst the many neurological bases for these kinds of social connections, the primate brain posses a higher number of mirror neurons; so named because of their ability to “reflect” the behavior of the others. They fire when an animal acts and when the animal observes similar actions performed by others (probably also the biological reason yawning is contagious). Thus, the primate brain is especially well wired to exhibit patterns of behavior that will lead to social success, like fairness and empathy.

Of course, these are just the beginnings of a society. Some of the same foundations that allow empathy to blossom, also give rise to another crucial ingredient for societies to thrive. Having outlined non-human primate communication systems previously, the growing complexities of communication will be the subject of my next article.