Developmental Context Effects On Bicultural Post-Trauma Self Repair In Chimpanzees

This study examined the post-trauma self-repair of three chimpanzees who were born and reared in different settings, subsequently used in biomedical experimentation, and now live in a primate sanctuary.

Each of the three chimpanzees studied were formerly used as biomedical test subjects, although each came from different settings. Tom was born and reared in the wild by his mother. Regis was born and reared in a laboratory without adult chimpanzees, and Billy was reared by humans as a human.

Observation and study of these three chimpanzees led to the following conclusions:

• Chimpanzees confined in a laboratory and subject to research and testing exhibit trauma-induced psychological symptoms.
• Cross-fostered chimpanzees also manifest issues with identity crisis, compounding the trauma.
• Cross-fostered chimpanzees also show symptoms of attachment disorder, including deficiencies in the ability to socialize with other chimpanzees, dominant behavioral traits reflective of human culture, preferences for socialization with humans over other chimpanzees, symptoms consistent with depression.
• This study draws additional attention to the implications of cross-fostering chimpanzees who are ultimately used in research.