Contact
Contact is an essential
element in chimpanzee behavior. It plays an important part
in social situations whether the chimpanzee is excited,
afraid, playing or relaxing. A pat, embrace or kiss
relieves the fears and frustrations of a crying infant,
lessens tension of adults involved in a dispute, and
reassures cringing anxious subordinates when threatened by
an aroused and aggressive high ranking chimpanzee.
Chimpanzee social and
familial bonds are strengthened through long-term
associations. Mothers and daughters spend a great deal of
time together and often share care-giving responsibilities
for infants and children. Sons grow away from their
mothers as they mature but often return to visit with her,
as they grow older. They have been known to intervene in
disputes on her behalf, and protect her other offspring.
Social by nature,
chimpanzees require the company of other chimpanzees for
psychological well-being. They gather in large groups to
share food, relax, and watch the children play. They spend
many hours cementing their relationships grooming debris
from hair. Touching is truly one of the most important
behaviors of chimpanzees as it is with humans.
Captive Chimpanzees
Contact whether by touch
or physical presence is an essential part of primate
behavior. Captive chimpanzees suffer mental deprivation
and poor health when housed singly. Infants raised in
isolation from other chimpanzees do not develop important
social skills or understand the social behavior of other
chimpanzees. Infants deprived of contact comfort and a
role model to observe normal behavior develop one or more
aberrant behaviors. These behaviors or stereotopies are
compulsive and repetitive behaviors such as, rocking,
coprophagy, head jerks, pacing, hair plucking, etc. It has
been suggested that socially and environmentally deprived
chimpanzees use repetitive behavior to console themselves.