Differential responses of chimpanzees to social stimulation.

Abstract

The preferences of young chimpanzees for social stimulation offered by a human were measured in a single-stimulus and a paired-comparison situation. Play was most preferred, followed by petting and being groomed; grooming the human stimulus was least preferred. It is concluded that specific forms of social stimulation may play a part in the development of companionship preferences and thus in the process of social control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)