Researchers from Durham University found that chimpanzees and bonobos use kissing, cuddling, and hugging to reduce tension and maintain peace [1].

This discovery suggests that the use of physical touch to manage social conflict is an ancient evolutionary trait. By understanding how these behaviors function in great apes, scientists can better understand the origins of social bonding and conflict resolution in humans.

The study involved eight months [4] of fieldwork conducted at research sites in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo [4]. Researchers observed how these primates interacted during and after stressful events, noting a pattern of physical reassurance used to stabilize the group [1].

These behaviors include various forms of touch, such as kissing and cuddling, that serve to ease tension [1]. The findings indicate that these mechanisms for building trust and reducing social stress likely existed six million years [5] before humans evolved [4].

There are varying observations regarding the timing of these interactions. Some data suggests that hugging occurs before stressful events as a way of building trust [2]. Other observations focus on consolation, where bonobos and chimpanzees comfort each other following conflicts and distress [4].

Regardless of the timing, the researchers said that such tactile communication is a fundamental tool for social cohesion among great apes [1]. The use of touch allows these animals to navigate complex social hierarchies and mitigate the risk of violence within their communities [3].

“Chimpanzees and bonobos use kissing, cuddling, and hugging to reduce tension.”

The evidence suggests that the human impulse to seek physical comfort during stress is not a modern psychological development but a deeply embedded biological trait. Because these behaviors predated human evolution by millions of years, it indicates that tactile bonding is a primary survival mechanism for social primates to prevent group fragmentation and lethal aggression.