Theory: Some Males Behave Like Bonobos, Others Chimps

GreenTracker| Researchers studying bonobo and chimpanzee responses to competition theorize that some human males respond like with increases in cortisol like bonobos and others with testosterone spikes like chimpanzees. 

Chimpanzees live in a highly-stressful male-dominated where status means everything and aggression can be severe. Bonobos are dominated by females and are known for more flexible cooperation and food-sharing. 

They found that males of both species who were intolerant and could not share with their partners showed hormonal changes in anticipation of competing for the food, but bonobos and chimpanzees were completely different in which hormones increased. via Science Daily

The more aggressive male chimpanzees showed an increase in testosterone, which is thought to prepare animals for competition or aggressive interactions. By contrast, male bonobos showed an increase in cortisol, which is associated with stress and more passive social strategies in other animals. 

Anne is in contact with Vanessa Woods, author of Bonobo Handshake and wife of study co-author Duke anthropologist Brian Hare. They are working on a plan for Anne of Carversville to raise money for bonobo research and preservation. To the best of Anne’s knowledge, fewer males in bonobo societies would have problems sharing food than in the chimp population. Anne will seek clarification on this assumption.