Teens showing ‘inner chimp’ when they monkey around
THE baffling behaviour of teenagers may seem a unique aspect of human adolescence, but it may be a throwback to our primate ancestors, with youngsters reverting to their “inner chimp” during puberty, scientists believe.
A study of young chimpanzees has found that they exhibit the same risktaking behaviour and moodiness as human teenagers.
“Adolescent chimpanzees are [facing] the same psychological tempest that human teens are,” said Dr Alexandra Rosati, of the University of Michigan and the lead researcher.
“Our findings show that several key features of human adolescent psychology are also seen in our closest primate relatives.”
Chimpanzees can live to be 50 years old and experience adolescence at about eight to 15. Like humans, they show rapid changes in hormone levels in adolescence, start forming new bonds with peers, show more aggression and compete for social status.
Researchers played two games with 40 wild-born chimps at a sanctuary in the Republic of the Congo.
In the first test they had to choose between a box that contained peanuts, or one that might have either a cucumber slice or a banana slice inside. They were 55 per cent more likely than adults to take the risky option. It suggests that like human teens, adolescent chimpanzees will also seek out the riskier option if there is a greater reward on offer.
In the second test, the chimps’ “delayed gratification” skills were tested by allowing them to receive one banana slice immediately or wait for one minute to receive three slices.
‘Adolescent chimpanzees are facing the same psychological tempest that human teens are’
Although they delayed their reward about the same amount as adults, they threw more tantrums in the one-minute delay than adult chimpanzees.
It suggests that, unlike humans, adolescent chimps are no more impulsive than adults, but they deal with losing as badly as human teens.
“Risk-taking behaviour in adolescent chimpanzees and humans appears to be deeply biologically ingrained, but increases in impulsive behaviour may be specific to human teens,” Dr Rosati said. The research was published in the