I recently found out that bonobos and chimpanzees are not only closely related to each other but also two of the closest relatives to humans. One area of difference between the two species is that chimps are very competitive with each other, while bonobos are more empathetic and caring.
When bonobos are presented with conflict they produce a hormone that stimulates social bonding in order to gain reassurance. (Victor, 2022)
This may explain what researchers found when they put a bowl of prized fruit in front of the bonobos and gave them the choice to either eat the fruit on their own or open a door so that they could share it with another bonobo. The researchers expected the bonobos to mostly keep the fruit for themselves but they almost always shared it. (Hare, 2010)
On the other hand, when chimps are faced with conflict they produce testosterone. This increases their aggression and hostility. This is useful in chimp society because in order for a chimp to find a fertile female they must battle other alpha males. (Smithsonian Magazine, 2010)
A new study that analyzed the saliva of humans, chimps, and bonobos found that the average man responds to competition similarly to bonobos. They both experience an increase in cortisol, which is associated with passive coping strategies to stress. While men who are striving for power, are more similar to chimps, who experience an increase in testosterone. (Wobber, 2010)
I find the idea that we blend together the responses to competition from bonobos and chimps very interesting. I wonder if this is one of the things that set us apart and allowed us to succeed over other great apes.
Victor, Taiwo. “Bonobo vs Chimpanzee: What Are the Differences?” AZ Animals, 22 Mar. 2022, https://a-z-animals.com/blog/bonobo-vs-chimpanzee-what-are-the-differences/.
Magazine, Smithsonian. “Is That Man a Bonobo or a Chimp?” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 30 June 2010, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/is-that-man-a-bonobo-or-a-chimp-30817100/.
Hare, Brian, and Suzy Kwetuenda. “Bonobos Voluntarily Share Their Own Food with Others.” Current Biology, vol. 20, no. 5, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2009.12.038.
Wobber, Victoria, et al. “Differential Changes in Steroid Hormones before Competition in Bonobos and Chimpanzees.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 107, no. 28, 2010, pp. 12457–12462., https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1007411107.
Evolutionary Anthropology 