Humans often organize their relationships into layers, spending the most time with a small group of close friends and family while maintaining weaker connections with a larger number of acquaintances. A new international study suggests that this pattern is not unique to people.
Researchers from Utrecht University and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid found that chimpanzees and bonobos, our closest living relatives, also form social networks that resemble human friendship circles. The findings provide new insight into how complex social relationships may have evolved.
Great Apes Build Human-Like Social Networks
To investigate how great apes manage their social lives, researchers examined social grooming behavior in 24 groups of chimpanzees and bonobos. Grooming is one of the most important social activities among apes, helping to strengthen bonds and maintain relationships.
Using a mathematical model, the team analyzed how individuals distributed their limited time and social effort among other members of their group.
