Comparing Chimp, Bonobo, And Human Mate Choice

The chimp, bonobo, and human mate choice have similarities as well as differences. In the article, Sex at Dawn the authors explain that “though bonobos surpass even chimps in the frequency of their sexual behavior, females of both species engage in multiple mating sessions in quick succession with different males. Among chimpanzees, ovulating females mate, on average, from six to eight times per day, and they are often eager to respond to the mating invitations of any and all males in the group” (Ryan & Jetha, pg. 69). The chimp, bonobo, and humans all participate in multimale-multifemale mating. Humans also participate in monogamous as well as polygynous mating. The bonobo maintained through social bonding between females. The chimpanzees
bonds are strong between males and lead to constantly shifting male coalitions. Females do not form strong bonds with other females or any males. Humans participate in all types of socio-sexual bonding, cooperation, and competition among contemporary humans. They are the most diverse of all the primates (Ryan & Jetha, pgs. 65-66). The primates have reproductive biology and sexuality called estrus. Estrus is present in ovulation. The female primates signal to the males by sight, smell, and behavior to let them know they are ovulating. The primates only have sex when they can get pregnant. Human females have a non-estrus sexuality. They have sex even when they cannot become pregnant. They engage in sexual activity throughout their menstrual cycle. Scholars consider humans to be more similar to bonobos in the way they choose their mates.
This is because bonobos like humans engage in the same styles of sexual behavior. Bonobos like humans have sex in a variety of mounting positions and genital contacts (De Waal, pg. 7). According to our lectures bonobos have face to face intercourse as well as oral sex, tongue kissing, and masturbation. These are the same practices humans engage in. They also participate in same sex sexual activities. Bonobos and humans enjoy many different sexual positions. Chimps prefer rear-entry. Chimps do not gaze in their partners eyes nor kiss deeply whereas humans and bonobos share these practices. Bonobos and humans use food sharing as a form of sexual activity where chimps only do so reasonably. Bonobos and humans also utilize sexuality for social purposes where chimps’ sexual activity is based primarily on reproduction (Ryan & Jetha, pgs.
77-78). The things that motivate mate choice among the different groups are that chimpanzees are motivated by some type of conflict.
Once chimpanzees fight, they come together for a hug and kiss. They like to reconcile their differences with some form of affection. The bonobo according to De Waal, was food that would instigate their mate choice. He says that “even before the food was thrown into the area, the bonobos would be inviting each other for sex: males would invite females, and females would invite males and other females” (De Waal, pg. 6). Bonobos become sexually aroused fairly easy, but sex is mainly connected to food. Humans and bonobos share the traits of showing compassion, trust, generosity, love, and
eroticism. The implications that mate choice has for social organization is that each group of primates are classified in a category of their own. The bonobo communities are peace-loving, the strongest social bonds are those among females. The chimpanzee strongest bonds are established between the males in order to hunt and to protect their shared territory, while the females live in overlapping home ranges. In humans, the males unite for cooperative ventures (De Waal, pg. 7). This is saying that each group has its own individuality even though they may share some of the same practices.
Works Cited
De Waal, F. (1995). Bonobo Sex & Society. Scientific American Mind. Volume 272. Issue 3. Pgs. 4-11
Ryan, C. & Jetha, C. (2010). Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality. Harper
York, A. 7.1 Primate Diversity.
York, A. 7.2 Primate Sexuality