# Great Apes kiss and cuddle to keep the peace, says study

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-22 07:07 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
Recent scientific studies reveal that great apes use kissing and cuddling to maintain social harmony, predating humans.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent scientific findings indicate that great apes engage in kissing and cuddling to promote social harmony and prevent conflicts within their groups. According to reporting from outlets including the BBC, Science News, Phys.org, and EurekAlert!, a new study examines humans' closest ape relatives to understand the role of physical touch. Additional coverage from The Conversation and The Northern Echo highlights research originating from Durham, noting that this behavior involving reassuring touch was utilized by apes millions of years before humans evolved. The coverage heavily emphasizes the evolutionary origins of physical affection as a survival and peace-keeping mechanism.


Outlets such as ETV Bharat and The Conversation explicitly frame hugging before dinner or other social interactions as one of evolution's oldest tricks. While the exact details of the study methodology are not fully detailed in the current headlines, the participating outlets uniformly point to the deep ancestral roots of touch-based reassurance in managing group dynamics and reducing tension among primates. This research provides critical context regarding the behavioral continuity between humans and other great apes. By demonstrating that social reassurance through physical touch existed long before the emergence of human societies, the study bridges a gap in understanding primate behavior.


Coverage does not yet specify the full scope of species observed in the research or the specific observation techniques deployed by the Durham researchers, leaving these details pending in broader scientific discourse. Future developments will depend on how the scientific community responds to the study's findings and whether subsequent research expands on how physical touch influences conflict prevention across different primate populations. Readers should look to further announcements from the participating academic institutions and scientific publications for complete methodological breakdowns and peer reviews as the story continues to develop across global media platforms.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| The Conversation | Great apes were using touch to reassure and keep the peace six million years before humans evolved – new research | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3wFBVV95cUxOeXh5Tmp2T2tHU1h1Wl9tLUtfdzNySXpudXhqY1VFT0xva2gwNjVMYnNTRV9UMDN1VWgzLVUxU0pOalhQcFlsMDNHeDYyYzA0bDZtY1NxaUgtZWFoR0ZVeUpoODYyRGV0ZGhSaHdmU0hrSGdLVHF5QUdxeHg0ak14ai0xaWdCMmhReVRwMU03aDF1RERVajdaZXVYcE9SZUlKbnhnMW5oMnJlTENmSlRjZnFhQmFTWmVyOWZhdV9fV2oycF9ZT0pxVDVBOXlNSEFKeHJ5aG9yVzc3LTF5TUxR?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | New study into humans' closest ape relatives suggests physical touch can promote social harmony | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieEFVX3lxTE5DRGl2TFpFeUhWWXhyd3dWU1ZtUlFvTW4tWjhpWEhNaWkzS1pHTVZTTmFYSFdEaFJkandBak92RU5CTnJrTkdVTUdEN2tHYm1pMzE4cGhxaGlMakFQcUhTcnBLOXpwcEFCTWh0ak9mQ1pEV1JuTko2NA?oc=5) |
| The Northern Echo | Durham study suggests touch may have helped apes – and humans – keep the peace | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxORURCQ3Q2T1pCWnFRaUV0c2V0Qm9aMjRhZ0otejFTMDNqcG1pbE5PUlpYR2x2ckszYVFTZ3RacmgyMTloTFpHZ1pkaEdwbWtES2JhbEFuWjhFQUVYQXBXWXVqamJmcmo4MmF3Z2ZxNFJnRWY1Qmw5RnhOczBBcmNjMEZGS2hXX1pnUHpfMG9WUGJkcWJEb0JnOEwxMWRyTlU0VnpzcV8wMzZjNDJKYWc?oc=5) |
| Science News | Ape cuddles could prevent conflicts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxOT1FublBpOXl3WWZmNkREOFQtdkwtaC1jM0xOdHc5Q1NQNkktbWhVZU9JVFEwTm5zNmFMZXA2Wk95UTk3WHZTMHQyVFZlNHB3cGd1dnVMdzNqOXBrS09tVjRrS2g0SnY0Tzg2VE1RQlI1ZVNPMmRxN1p6SWgwbFpOag?oc=5) |
| The Conversation | Reassuring touch kept the peace six million years before humans evolved – new research | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxPc0lZMVE5cGpjalZMQ2d3c0hIdGZkY19kdXJSdDlZSDB6dWNfZE5GcTA1WlF5NWlrbmItbnZoV21yOVA1Y0FWcUl1OXdVMGlSSm8yVndUTU16c2t4clc1amVFbG0wbGFwdUc0RkYwQlk4WGktRmh3REozQnA4YXlIWGdoeDdhY25IRjRXbGlVQ2pCTUxNb01oRTUxV0ZtUFhEdUVPenFCNUFDUDNLR1BSR0l3ZUEyazFiR0o0?oc=5) |
| ETV Bharat | Why A Hug Before Dinner May Be One Of Evolution's Oldest Survival Tricks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxQTVl4NHlIUXd1MUdGU1VKaUE2QWZ5RHdQb2l6XzdNYkhBS3FreE4za0VpdUJBNVR6QTlpaGdVTEF5SGVOZW1vT1dLWUd3VUsya1FLS3hjcDFKeHVabkRqUHBXU2tQN0lLTTlkRjR5UjJiWms3Z2w2N3B2X0JTM1M0Q3dxTXVocUpPT3locWFrWHROSmVi0gGaAUFVX3lxTFBHM1ZFYUgyM2ZqMFRwX2RzQ0c0aXNIX0dVTm9KUTdDRXR6NjFNd2pEcGRuT0pvaXVubTk1NWtiRzkyN3FhWlFJbXV6cDlsVkJXVG5TTHFxaUd5VUUwTlkxeFY3Q2ZfMnhPdFkyd2hxQkJVQlVENWhnbkZwWC1ueWQyclNTa0NGT3pobXlYMXNJZ0xhNUktXzFUUUE?oc=5) |
| EurekAlert! | Try a little tenderness - new study into humans' closest ape relatives suggests physical touch can promote social harmony | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXEFVX3lxTE9fYktndlR1djB2WlY0d2VvQ1d1ZkxvMGJLQWNtb19Ja21hVHNoSkxSckx6MjJYRnZPbGw2V1ZJZ3NHazJYdm9uMkpEOUw4YVp0RFczc2pBM3FHbi14?oc=5) |
| BBC | Great Apes kiss and cuddle to keep the peace, says study | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTFBvQ3VXOU5QYTZxRjE4TnhiV3lEZjVDTmdWbFJPd2c1RWtBM3ZBNUhKM0dsT3JlNC1kNjZ4TGdROXNQcDRBdjRGVGp5UEJCa0NtNU5leFhKNkFvdw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-22/great-apes-kiss-and-cuddle-to-keep-the-peace-says-study*