The Ancient Art of Reassurance: What Apes Can Teach Humans About Conflict Resolution In a world where aggression often seems to prevail, it's refreshing to discover that our closest animal relatives have been practicing a more civil approach to conflict resolution for millions of years.
Researchers at Durham University observed chimpanzees and bonobos using physical touch to reassure each other before stressful events with remarkable results.
The study found that these great apes would often gather together before feeding, engaging in a range of physical contact from gentle touches to full blown "reassurance trains" where multiple apes would embrace one another in succession.