Primatology and Religion: Can chimps teach us anything about Religion?

1. Primatology and Religion: Can chimps teach us anything about Religion? James A. Van Slyke

2. Humans as Primates

3. Humans as Primates • Share 98.5% of the same genes • Hominid lineage split from chimpanzee about 6 million years ago from a common ancestor • Chimpanzee and Bonobo Chimpanzee split about 2.5 million years ago

4. Can nonhuman primates really tell us anything about Religion?

5. Evolutionary Science • Comparative psychology • Studying animal behavior as approximations of human behavior • Primatology – study of chimpanzees and apes • Similarities in adaptive behaviors

6. Important questions for Evolution • Human Altruism is an important doctrine in many religions • If evolution is about survival of the fittest, why do people sacrifice for others? • Show Care and Concern for others • Help others in need • Willing to sacrifice one’s life for another Mother Teresa

7. Assumptions about Evolution • “Nature red in Tooth and Claw” (Tennyson) • “Selfish Genes” (Dawkins) • Common assumption about Evolution is that it is primarily about competition and violence • Non human Primates demonstrate other factors in the social lives of chimpanzees • Not all aspects are competitive and violent

8. Primate Behavior (Rhesus monkeys) • Attachment • Harry Harlow’s studies on cloth vs. wire mother • Attachment is primary bond used for social exploration of young monkeys • Several underlying neural systems facilitate this bond • Neurochemicals – oxytocin, prolactin, endorphins • Hypothalamus releases oxytocin, which facilitates breast-feeding and bonding • Performs a similar function in human mothers • Attachment is the first process that increases our circle of concern towards others

9. Chimpanzee Behavior • Chimpanzee societies have a hierarchical system • alpha male has sexual privileges and rights to food • Yet male is not completely dominate in social situations • Food Sharing • Chimpanzees will tolerate others eating their food • Begging is often involved • Protests against monopolizing food sources • Mouth to mouth feeding may have been a pre-cursor for a kiss • Food may be distributed to hunters first; or used to maintain status

10. Bonobo Behavior (Pygmy Chimp) • Hippie Monkeys – “Make love not war” • Bonobos have larger groups • Bonobos often use sex; heterosexual or homosexual to ease tensions in the group • Sex is often exchanged for food • Female matriarchs are often in charge in bonobo troops • Females often maintain power through alliances with other females

11. Chimpanzee Females • Females will often work together to fend off aggressive males • Chimpanzees often have a alpha female in the group • Through coalitions females may sometimes have more power than the alpha male • Alpha males cannot retain their status without help from females

12. Chimpanzee hierarchy • Alpha males usually can only retain status through building coalitions with other males • There is a type of rank system in chimpanzee troops; but not strict dominance of one chimp over all others • Example • Nikkie retained the alpha role by teaming up with an older adult male Yeoren against a third rival Luit • Coalitions such as this one are very common

13. Social relationships in Primates • The social structure of early primate societies may have been a precursor to human altruism • Step from pure self-interest to interest in the other • Increased the circle of concern towards others in the group • Definitely not altruism, but a step in the right direction