The Role of Play in Adult Chimpanzee Cooperation
Insights from Taï Forest: How Play Builds Social Bonds and Enhances Teamwork
Play is often seen as a hallmark of childhood, but new research shows its significance extends into adulthood, particularly in highly social species like chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). In the Taï Forest of Côte d’Ivoire, wild chimpanzees engage in playful behaviors that foster cooperation, resolve conflicts, and prepare them for collaborative activities. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary roots of social bonding and cooperation, offering parallels with human social play.
The Social Purpose of Play
Play Among Adults: An Evolutionary Perspective
Although adult play is relatively rare in non-human species, it remains a universal aspect of human social interaction, fostering relationships and cooperation. A recent study published in Current Biology1 highlights that chimpanzees also sustain social play into adulthood, particularly before undertaking complex group activities.
“We show that adult social play in chimpanzees can foster a range of cooperative behaviors, from dyadic interactions to complex, risky activities requiring the coordination of multiple individuals,” explains Liran Samuni of the German Primate Center and the Taï Chimpanzee Project.
These findings emphasize that playful interactions elicit positive emotions and strengthen bonds, supporting cooperation in both humans and chimpanzees.
Observations from the Taï Forest
Samuni and her team studied three cohesive groups of wild chimpanzees in the Taï Forest, observing that adults—both male and female—regularly engage in play. These interactions involve wrestling, mock biting, slapping, and chasing, often accompanied by "play faces" and panting vocalizations. These behaviors resemble human smiles and laughter, signaling the positive and non-threatening nature of the interactions.
“Though adult-adult social play was not a daily occurrence, it consistently emerged under specific conditions,” notes Samuni.
Play and Cooperation in Chimpanzee Society
Preparing for Collaboration
The study analyzed 57 adult chimpanzees, revealing that social play often precedes cooperative group activities like monkey hunting or territorial defense. Chimpanzees who played together were more likely to work collaboratively in these high-stakes endeavors, suggesting that play signals a readiness for teamwork and strengthens collective motivation.
Even one-on-one play, typically occurring between close social partners, reinforces familiarity and trust.
“Societies characterized by cohesion and tolerance also exhibit higher frequencies of adult play,” observes Samuni, highlighting the connection between social harmony and playful interactions.
Resolving Social Tensions
Play also appears to alleviate social stress. It was observed more frequently during periods of heightened tension, such as competition for mates or after disputes. This indicates that play serves as a tool for conflict resolution, helping to diffuse aggression and reinforce group stability.
Behavioral Diversity Among Chimpanzees
Chimpanzee behaviors vary significantly across populations, and the patterns observed in the Taï Forest may not be universal. This behavioral flexibility highlights how ecological and social contexts shape the role of play in chimpanzee communities.
“Chimpanzees are behaviorally diverse, and their strategies differ across populations,” Samuni explains.
Future research aims to explore whether adult play is intentionally used to foster cooperation or if its benefits emerge naturally from the positive emotions it generates.
Parallels with Human Play
The findings underscore striking similarities between chimpanzee and human social play. In both species, play serves as more than entertainment—it is a vital mechanism for building trust, resolving conflicts, and enhancing cooperation. These shared traits suggest deep evolutionary roots for the social functions of play, offering insights into how early humans may have used similar strategies to forge strong social bonds.
Conclusion
The discovery of adult social play among Taï Forest chimpanzees provides compelling evidence of its role in fostering cooperation and cohesion. By demonstrating how play underpins teamwork and conflict resolution, this research reveals a sophisticated layer of chimpanzee social dynamics that mirrors human behavior. These insights contribute to understanding the evolutionary pathways that shaped social intelligence and collaborative behavior in primates.
Samuni, L., Mielke, A., Crockford, C., & Wittig, R. M. (2024). Social play fosters cooperation in wild adult chimpanzees. Current Biology: CB. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.058