Adult Chimpanzees Use Play to Strengthen Cooperation and Reduce Tension

New research reveals that social play among adult chimps fosters trust, collaboration, and conflict resolution in group activities.

A study of wild chimpanzees in Côte d'Ivoire's Taï Forest shows that adult chimps engage in social play to promote group cohesion and cooperation.
Researchers observed 57 adult chimps over six years, documenting nearly 5,000 play sessions involving behaviors like wrestling, chasing, and mock biting.
Play was more frequent before collective activities like hunting or territorial defense, enhancing trust and collaborative success among participants.
Chimps often played with close social partners or after disputes, suggesting play helps reduce tension and reconcile conflicts within the group.
The findings highlight the evolutionary roots of play as a tool for strengthening social bonds, with implications for understanding human and primate behavior.