Chimpanzees' attitude towards violence seems to have a correlation with humans' tendency to make war, as it could be a result of long-term evolutionary adaptation rather than just a human military ideology or a patriarchal phenomenon. Their behavior is a reminder that humans share similarities in emotions, capacities and strength with the species we share a common ancestor with.
Research students studying chimps discovered their capacity for violence, as these animals are capable of killing not only strangers but also each other, reflecting the fact that they possess a myriad of emotions and remarkable strength that are closely similar to humans. Grooming is a common behavioral pattern exhibited by chimps that involves one approaching another, presenting for grooming, and ruffling their fingers through their hair.
Explore how the violent and war-like behavior of chimps is similar to that of humans, and what that tells us about our evolutionary psychology.
In comparison to human warfare, the dynamics of multiple chimps together can increase the chance of violence, with an average number of eight chimpanzee males attacking a single male.