Chimpanzees Copy Grooming and Play, Study Finds
Researchers found chimpanzees are more likely to groom or play after seeing other chimpanzees do so.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Social Sciences
Georgia Sandars and colleagues from Durham University published a study in the open-access journal PLOS ONE showing chimpanzees display contagion of grooming and play behaviours. The researchers observed 41 chimpanzees living in a sanctuary in Zambia.
Why it matters
Behavioural contagion is thought to help animal groups reinforce their social bonds and stay synchronized. The findings suggest friendly behaviours spreading through a group may help reinforce social bonds among chimpanzees.
The study observed 41 chimpanzees at a Zambian sanctuary, with grooming contagion stronger among close social partners than weaker-bond partners. It is not stated whether the pattern holds in wild populations.
The players
Georgia Sandars
Georgia Sandars is a researcher at Durham University who led the study on chimpanzee behavioural contagion published in PLOS ONE.
The details
Chimpanzees of all ages, categories, and sexes displayed contagion of grooming and play behaviours after watching others perform them. Playful behaviour was more contagious in younger chimpanzees, and play contagion was not affected by the strength of the social bond.
The Big Picture
The study extends research on behavioural contagion, which is thought to help animal groups reinforce social bonds and stay synchronized. Its finding that play spreads regardless of bond strength while grooming does not raises questions about how different social behaviours serve relationship maintenance.
The findings may inform how researchers study social development and bonding in primates, including how play supports the development of young chimpanzees. Their practical application beyond research settings is not established.
The takeaway
Friendly behaviours such as grooming and play can spread through a chimpanzee group, and this spread may help maintain the bonds that hold the group together. Observing how these behaviours propagate offers a window into the social lives of our closest relatives.
Further reading
Explore more in Social Sciences for broader context on animal social behaviour.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PlusNews.
