Chimpanzee Parenting in the Wild Offers Clues About Human Child Development

Have you ever wondered how your childhood relationship with your parents shaped the person you are today? Scientists have long known that early attachment to caregivers plays a crucial role in human development, but what about one of our closest relatives, the chimpanzee?

By observing the behavior of wild chimpanzees in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, over four years, researchers discovered that young chimpanzees, like human children, develop different types of attachment to their mothers. Some feel secure, relying on their mother in times of distress and exploring their environment confidently, knowing she is there to support them. Others have insecure-avoidant attachment, which means they tend to be more independent and do not seek comfort from their mothers as much. However, unlike humans, where 23.5 percent of children show disorganized attachment, and captive orphaned chimpanzees, where 61 percent show this type of attachment, wild chimpanzees showed no signs of disorganized attachment.

Wild Chimpanzees Do Not Show Disorganized Attachment

In humans, disorganized attachment occurs when a child experiences fear, trauma or aggression from their caregiver. As a result, the child may display confusing behaviors, wanting affection but also fearing the caregiver. This type of attachment can lead to difficulties with emotional regulation, social integration and long-term mental health problems. Disorganized attachment is thought to be maladaptive because it leaves the child uncertain about how to respond in times of distress, potentially hindering their ability to cope effectively and affecting their overall survival.

Captive chimpanzees, particularly orphans raised by humans, often develop disorganized attachment, probably due to the lack of a permanent caregiver. But in the wild, where chimpanzees grow up in stable family groups and face natural survival pressures such as predation, the researchers found no evidence of disorganized attachment. "In the wild, we found no evidence of disorganized attachment patterns, which supports the hypothesis that this type of attachment may not be an adaptive survival strategy in the face of environmental constraints," says first author Eléonore Rolland. This suggests that if disorganized attachment does occasionally occur in wild chimpanzees, these individuals are unlikely to survive or reproduce.

Potential Implications for Human Parenting

Attachment theory is a key concept in psychology that explains how early relationships shape emotional and social development. Secure attachment is associated with confidence and resilience, while insecure and disorganized attachment can be associated with anxiety, stress or difficulties in relationships. The fact that wild chimpanzees showed only secure or insecure avoidant attachment raises new questions about modern human parenting.

Our results deepen our understanding of chimpanzees' social development and show that humans and chimpanzees are not so different after all. But they also make us think: have some modern human institutions or caregiving practices moved away from what is best for infant development?"

Eléonore Rolland, first author

Insights into the Roots of Human Social Behavior

"By identifying attachment patterns in wild chimpanzees, we provide important insights into the roots of human social behavior," says senior author Roman Wittig. This study bridges psychology, animal behavior and anthropology, shedding light on how attachment strategies have evolved across species. Senior author Catherine Crockford adds: "Our findings suggest that shared attachment strategies in primates may reflect a common evolutionary heritage. The high prevalence of disorganized attachment in humans and captive orphan chimpanzees, in contrast to wild chimpanzees, also supports the idea that the rearing environment plays an important role in shaping attachment types."

These findings bring us closer to understanding both chimpanzees and humans, and encourage deeper reflection on how early life experiences shape social and emotional development across species.