Chimpanzee Friendliness Spreads Like a Social Wave

Research from Durham University reveals that positive behaviors like grooming and play are contagious among chimpanzees, promoting social bonds and group harmony. Conducted at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, the study shows that grooming is more common among close partners, while play is prevalent among younger chimps. These findings offer insights into the evolution of human empathy and sociality, highlighting the role of positive emotional contagion in maintaining cooperative group dynamics.