Interestingly, Indigo, bonobos are not non-violent.

Richard Wrangham's & Dale Peterson's 'Demonic Males: Apes and the
Origins of Human Violence' (Houghton Mifflin Co. 1996) reads, in part:

        "Occasionally a male may lose his temper, attacking a
        female badly enough to tear her ear, for example. But
        such cases ... are very unusual. Males rarely attack females 
        half as often as they attack each other), and when they do,
        they are liable to be driven off by a gang of females."
        [Source of quotation: http://tftb.com/deify/demonic.htm]

Besides, the supposed sexual resolution of conflict by bonobos may just
be "sublimation" . . . avoidance and not resolution of the cause of
conflict.

In a student's essay about Frances de Waal's book, 'Bonobo: The
Forgotton Ape' (University of California Press, 1997):

        "Aggression is not absent in the bonobo, but it is mild
        compared to that of the chimpanzee.  The author describes
        the elaborate "steam-engine" charging display of the
        chimpanzee. A male chimpanzee will raise his hair, uproot
        a small tree and charge with great force and energy while
        slapping the ground. The bonobo will grab a branch and
        drag it while making a short run. The bonobo is almost no
        comparison to the chimps 'unstoppable display.'"
        [Source: http://www.tence.net/articles/bonobo-report.html]

Whilst not the same intensity as the chimp, the bonobo *can* display
aggression . . .

Sincerely,

j heuman
Education Curator
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art
Utah State University
4020 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT  84322-4020
t 435.797.0165 | f 435.797.3423
 
Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.
Sir Charles Moser, b. 1922
 


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Indigo Nights
> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 2:12 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Peace
> Seeing Roy-Boy step up to the plate and take on the subject 
> reminds me of the bonobos.  As I looked for a relevant 
> link(s), I came across this info having to do with our 
> genetic predispositions as it relates to our familial line (primates).
> Why is it that bonobos can live in peace, but chimps can't, 
> and the larger primate, man, is hopelessly in love with the 
> concept of wars and aggression?  Could it be a biological 
> predisposition?  Certainly something to consider:
> See for more info
> http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/5/prweb66979.htm
> It would seem we may have a genetic predisposition to aggression.
> Me, I'd rather be a bonobo and not have to deal with all the tumult!

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