FundamentallySound Blog

The New York Times has a review of a new book comparing human behavior to monkeys. In it, Frans de Waal draws a dichotomy between Chimp behavior, wherein society is controlled by a male-dominated power hierarchy, and Bonobo behavior, another species of ape, who don't fight as much, live in peaceful matriarchy, and often, use sexual activity to resolve conflict, "defusing the aggression with friendly physical contact." I think I know which tribe I'd prefer.

De Waal is fascinating, arguing that other aspects of human nature, like cooperation, have been neglected by scientists studying human nature. Some excerpts of conversations with him are here. And this is a very nice link to an article by de Waal on the behavior of the lovemaking Bonobos, in which he writes, "Lest this leave the impression of a pathologically oversexed species, I must add, based on hundreds of hours of watching bonobos, that their sexual activity is rather casual and relaxed." I think Americans could learn a lot from the Bonobos, this sounds like a good antidote to the common portrayal of sex as an uptight and schizophrenic activity in this country.