Wild Cousins

Cognition

Is It Language You’re Using, or Just Words?

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on August 7, 2026

How can we distinguish the use of a language from the knowledge of a number of words?

How can we distinguish the use of a language from the knowledge of a number of words?

Animal Behavior

Chimpanzee the Hunter

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on January 2, 2025

How does meat-eating make a chimpanzee friends?

How does meat-eating make a chimpanzee friends?

Evolutionary Psychology

How Falling Down (Maybe) Made Us Human

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on June 3, 2024

Did the problem of big bodies in difficult terrain give rise to self-awareness?

Did the problem of big bodies in difficult terrain give rise to self-awareness?

Family Dynamics

How Much Does Birth Order Say About Who You Are?

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on January 14, 2024

Are first-borns smarter and less likable? The idea is compelling, but not necessarily true.

Are first-borns smarter and less likable? The idea is compelling, but not necessarily true.

Animal Behavior

Meet the Chimps: Individuality Is Part of Their Lives

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on July 11, 2023

Diversity is the spice of life when it comes to differences among chimpanzees living together in a community.

Diversity is the spice of life when it comes to differences among chimpanzees living together in a community.

Politics

The Chimpanzee War

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on April 28, 2023

What happens in a chimpanzee community when the leader dies, but no one knows it?

What happens in a chimpanzee community when the leader dies, but no one knows it?

Animal Behavior

Do Chimps Recognize Others’ Disabilities?

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on March 26, 2023

Chimpanzees have the opportunity to adjust their behavior for others with physical limitations. Do they take it?

Chimpanzees have the opportunity to adjust their behavior for others with physical limitations. Do they take it?

Altruism

Can Chimpanzees Be Heroes?

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on January 15, 2023

Chimpanzees risk life and limb in dramatic rescues of others. What would it take to consider them heroes?

Chimpanzees risk life and limb in dramatic rescues of others. What would it take to consider them heroes?

Adolescence

The Mystery of Why Female Chimps Leave Their Groups

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on December 15, 2022

Why do pre-teen chimpanzee females set off on solo quests? For healthy genes.

Why do pre-teen chimpanzee females set off on solo quests? For healthy genes.

Embarrassment

No Private Parts? Chimpanzees Groom Each Other Without Shame

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on November 5, 2022

Humans consider some body parts “private,” even when they need help with them. Chimps, on the other hand, help each other groom without shame.

Humans consider some body parts “private,” even when they need help with them. Chimps, on the other hand, help each other groom without shame.

Gratitude

3 Times a Wild Chimpanzee Helped Me

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on July 17, 2022

What would convince you that a chimp meant to help, on purpose?

What would convince you that a chimp meant to help, on purpose?

Intelligence

Chimp Encounters in the Forest

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on June 27, 2022

Do wild chimpanzees notice the field researchers observing them? Yes, they do!

Do wild chimpanzees notice the field researchers observing them? Yes, they do!

Environment

What Chimps Can—and Can’t—Teach Us About Ourselves

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Ph.D. on January 6, 2022

Is it a good idea to look to chimps as a way of understanding ourselves?

Is it a good idea to look to chimps as a way of understanding ourselves?