Chimpanzee Personalities Mirror Humans, Study Finds
A groundbreaking study, led by psychologist Alexander Weiss, has revealed that chimpanzee personalities, much like those of renowned actress Jane Fonda, remain consistent over time, mirroring human personality traits. This discovery, published in Scientific Data, revisits the pioneering work of renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, who first observed and documented chimpanzee behaviour in the 1960s.
Goodall's initial research, conducted at Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, laid the foundation for understanding chimpanzee personalities. In 1973, researcher Peter Buirski profiled 24 chimpanzees along 10 behavioural traits, highlighting differences between males and females. Weiss's recent study expanded on this, rating the personalities of 128 chimpanzees, many of whom were originally studied by Goodall.
Weiss and colleagues re-surveyed Gombe's field assistants in 2010, gathering over 11,000 responses. They found striking consistencies in the chimpanzees' personalities over time, suggesting that these traits are stable, much like in humans. This dataset could now help answer questions about how different personalities affect life outcomes in people.
One notable chimpanzee, Passion, not included in the 1973 survey due to her aggressive behaviour, infamously went on a cannibalistic killing spree in 1975. This incident underscores the importance of understanding individual chimpanzee personalities.
The new study, ahead of its time in many ways, builds on Jane Goodall's iconic fieldwork. It demonstrates that chimpanzee personalities are stable, offering valuable insights into primate behaviour and human personality. The dataset from this research could pave the way for further studies on the impact of personality on life outcomes in both chimpanzees and humans. A documentary about Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research, 'Watch Jane', will air on March 12 at 8 p.m. EST on the website's channel, providing a timely opportunity to learn more about this fascinating work.
Read also:
- Intestinal Infection Causing Stomach Distress: Signs and Remedies
- What is the expected timing for the flu season in this current year?
- Essential Information on Cushing Syndrome: a Disorder Caused by High Cortisol Levels
- Starting in September, elderly individuals aged 75 years and above will be enrolled in a preventive program for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
