| Concept/Content |
social context of cooperative behavior / sharing and begging in prime chimpanzee resources |
| Information caption |
The behavioral difference between early humans and their closest primate relatives also seems based on social organization. Chimps compete for both food and mates, even within social groupings. Their societies are marked by linear dominance hierarchies. Pairs sometimes form coalitions and significantly alter the balance of power. Larger coalitions appear temporarily but they too are limited in scope. Chimp cooperative behavior is also limited, and often politically oriented. Altruism is rare.
Here, "three male chimps [Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii] share the carcass of a red colobus (Colobus tephrosceles badius) which they have caught and killed. A female with ventral infant (right) begs for scraps of meat" (Bygott). Sharing is both motivated and limited by the political context.
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| Inquiry caption |
There are also significant differences in social structure between early human ancestors and their closest primate relatives. Here, "three male chimps [Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii] share the carcass of a red colobus [Colobus tephrosceles badius] which they have caught and killed. A female with ventral infant (right) begs for scraps of meat" (Bygott). The scene reflects how sharing in chimps is both motivated by and limited by political context. Chimps compete for both food and mates, even within social groupings. Their societies are marked by linear dominance hierarchies. Pairs sometimes form coalitions and significantly alter the balance of power. Larger coalitions appear temporarily but they are limited in scope. Chimp cooperative behavior is limited, and often politically oriented. Altruism is rare. [continued...] |
| Photographer |
David Bygott |
| Credit |
Photo by David Bygott |
| SIZE in pixels [file size] |
670x431 |
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