Evidence of organized but not disorganized attachment in wild Western chimpanzee offspring (Pan troglodytes verus)

Eléonore Rolland (), Oscar Nodé-Langlois, Patrick J. Tkaczynski, Cédric Girard-Buttoz, Holly Rayson, Catherine Crockford and Roman M. Wittig ()
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Eléonore Rolland: University of Lyon (CNRS UMR 5229)
Oscar Nodé-Langlois: University of Lyon (CNRS UMR 5229)
Patrick J. Tkaczynski: Liverpool John Moores University
Cédric Girard-Buttoz: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Holly Rayson: University of Lyon 1 (CNRS UMR 5229)
Catherine Crockford: University of Lyon (CNRS UMR 5229)
Roman M. Wittig: University of Lyon (CNRS UMR 5229)

Nature Human Behaviour, 2025, vol. 9, issue 8, 1571-1582

Abstract: Abstract Human attachment theory outlines three organized types: secure, insecure avoidant and insecure resistant, all considered adaptive responses to maternal care for offspring survival. In contrast, disorganized attachment is hypothesized to be maladaptive and therefore uncommon in wild mammals, though this remains untested. We assessed attachment types in 50 wild chimpanzees (ages 0–10 years) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. Using 3,795 h of mother and offspring focal observations, we found no behaviours indicative of disorganized attachment. To explore organized attachment, we analysed a subset of 18 immature chimpanzees and their behavioural responses to 309 natural threatening events. Their responses showed organized attachment patterns: some sought maternal closeness (secure-like), while others displayed independence (insecure avoidant-like). Our study supports the hypothesis that organized attachment types are adaptive and have a long evolutionary history.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-025-02176-8

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