Let's Settle This Like Monkeys!

During a lesson in my Environmental Systems class which is full of seniors, our focus was on varying species of primates. We studied the similarities and differences between the way they obtain food, their physical features, their temperaments, their social organization, and their territories. It was quite a fun discussion and the video I was showing was pretty interesting.

We learned about one of the tiniest primates in the world, the mouse lemur which is a little bitty fella about three and a half inches long and only weighing about an ounce. We talked about capuchins, apes, baboons, macaques, and gibbons. One of my favorite primates is the orangutan. It is so fun to watch the videos of them swinging in the trees with their babies.

We were particularly interested in their environment and how they maintained it by teaching their young to get food. By fighting other groups from their same species to protect their area or gain new territory. The beautiful red-faced monkeys in Japan who live where it is very cold use a warm water source to prevent freezing. We watched them fight for their place in the life-saving pool, and thought it was sad when the weaker individuals froze to death.

All of the primates we looked at solved their disputes by fighting. Chimpanzees were surprisingly violent and the students were disgusted to find out that they sometimes cannibalize the losers. And then came the bonobo! Students learned about this chimpanzee-like species and the very unique way they have of running their society. They solve everything peacefully. They do not fight. Instead, they have sex. They have sex to resolve conflict, to show affection, and for social status. They have sex when they are excited and for stress reduction. The sex involves lots of different partner combinations and a variety of positions. If an outsider wants to join their group, they submit sexually right away, and then they are able to share resources and space with them peacefully.

Well, let's just put it this way. My students were very motivated to use this highly sophisticated method of social management. And now, in my room whenever there is the least little bit of a confrontation or hurt feelings, my students tell each other, "Hey! Let's solve this like monkeys!"