Like Us, Chimps Calm Each Other with Hugs, Kisses

from the San Diego Union-Tribune (Registration Required)

WASHINGTON (Associated Press)—For most folks, a nice hug and some sympathy can help a bit after we get pushed around. Turns out, chimpanzees use hugs and kisses the same way.

And it works. Researchers studying people's closest genetic relatives found that stress was reduced in chimps that were victims of aggression if a third chimp stepped in to offer consolation.

"Consolation usually took the form of a kiss or embrace," said Dr. Orlaith N. Fraser of the Research Center in Evolutionary Anthropology and Paleoecology at Liverpool John Moores University in England.

Science in the Media

Newspapers:

Magazines and Web Sites:

The Science-Media Intersection:

Science Blogs

Sign Up

... for Sigma Xi SmartBrief, a free daily summary of the latest news in scientific research, delivered straight to your in-box. Each story is summarized concisely and linked directly to the original source for further reading.

Click here to subscribe.

Subscribe to Our Content!

Visit our RSS Feeds page to choose among 13 customized feeds, or create a free My AmSci account to request an email notice whenever a specified author, department or discipline appears online.

EMAIL TO A FRIEND :

Of Possible Interest

Science In The News Daily: Bonobos Join Chimps as Closest Human Relatives

Science In The News Daily: Out of Asia: How Monkey and Ape Ancestors Colonized Africa

Science In The News Daily: Orangutans Show Engineering Skills When Building Nests