Ape Huddles: Gentle Touch Builds Peace Among Chimps and Bonobos
Scientists observing chimpanzees and bonobos at sanctuaries found that, five minutes before peanuts arrive, they engage in reassuring physical contact—touching, hugging and even kissing—to build trust. Those who touched more tended to share food and eat peacefully; researchers described sequences of multiple embraces as 'reassurance trains.' They suggest this ancient social toolkit for building cooperation predates language by millions of years, dating back to at least seven million years ago.
