Humans, as far as evolution can explain, are most closely related to chimpanzees. They are thought to be our most recent ancestor and we share many aspects in common. Some of those similar aspects are behavioral, genetic and physiological. Another primate that we humans closely resemble is the bonobo; these species are known for the very rare social female-lead hierarchy they live by. It is known that genetically humans share 98% of the same genes as bonobos (de Waals 4). Looking at and understanding the sexual behaviors of other primates can potentially help humans understand why we have sex for reasons other than reproduction and what motivates us to participate in such acts.
Chimpanzees are known to be very aggressive and power driven species. Many think that these behaviors coincide with the fact that the male species of the group are dominant. Male relationships are the strongest within chimps while females move territories and do not make many relationships with other female chimps. This is because males spend much of their time together hunting for food in groups and once that food has been caught, they share it with one another no matter their relationship status. As far as mating, male or female chimps are not monogamous, but are what is known as multimale-multifemale oriented. This means that throughout a life time they mate with multiple partners (Ryan 60-78).
The motivation for male chimps to choose a mate is strictly for reproduction. It is not up to the female whether mating will occur or not but is a male chimps decision (Dixson 41). We can see that in chimps the sexual behavior within a group is strictly based on the males; however, for bonobos there is a different social order. Bonobos are an interesting species because of their very rare behavioral approach of social hierarchy.
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In this community the bonobo females hold close relationships with one another and because of this their groups are generally controlled by the females and the males often are placed by their mothers’ position. There is much evidence that shows that because the females are in control that there is less demand and competition for male bonobos to find female mates. With less competition for reproduction the frequency of aggression between males decreases (de Waal 6). This idea also coincides with the fact that bonobos are somewhat of free spirits when it comes to sexual relationships. Bonobos will have sexual encounters with any other bonobo species whether male or female. Bonobos, like the chimps, follow a multimale-multifemale mating system.
Their sexual encounters can be used to settle disputes and make up or even to receive food from one another. This can be related to human because in some cultures people that share everything tend to get along better and those who did not share were seen as shameful to their community. This type of behavior has proven to reduce tension and competition within a group (Ryan 101). In the article “Sex at Dawn” Ryan and Jetha state, “It’s clear how greater female sexual availability could increase sharing, cooperation, and peaceful stability…” (Ryan 102). This brings us to the next subject of humans.
When relating humans to these two primates we find that humans are a varied mix between the two. It is very unclear whether humans have a more male or female dominant society because it varies throughout cultures, so that subject will be ignored for the purposes of complication. First and foremost humans are similar to the bonobos and chimps when it comes to mating systems which again is multimale-multifemale. However like the chimps, humans tend to be competitive when it comes to sex, but on the other hand are also cooperative in some aspects of these relationships.
This is because in humans and bonobos sex is used not only for reproduction but also social interaction, which may be why homosexuality is seen more often in these two species and not as much in chimps. Another interesting fact is that the vulva of humans and bonobos are frontal and eye gazing and kissing is done during sex; however chimps vulva are further back and sex is commonly done from behind (Ryan 72-73). Humans can be seen as being very similar to bonobos as far a sexual behaviors and less so like chimps. From this information we can see that the sexual relations between humans can be like the bonobos as for social and economic reasons and like the chimps for power.
