Chimpanzees and Humans Share Similar Personalities: How Close Are We to Apes?

We all know that chimpanzees are closely related to humans. Now, though, researchers are looking at exactly how similar we are. It turns out that chimpanzees not only have the same personality traits as humans, but that they're structured almost identically.

In order to get a better look at chimp personalities, the researchers employed a common tool, called the Chimpanzee Personality Questionnaire. This questionnaire was filled out by the chimpanzee's caregivers, who rated individual chimps in 43 categories based on their daily behaviors. Then, the scientists analyzed these questionnaires for 174 chimps and ran extensive individual analysis to find out which traits went together.

"Our work also demonstrates the promise of using chimpanzee models to investigate the neurobiology of personality processes," said Robert Latzman, one of the researchers, in a news release. "We know that these processes are associated with a variety of emotional health outcomes. We're excited to continue investigating these links."

In fact, the analysis revealed that the most fundamental trait for chimps was dominance-whether a chimp was an "Alpha" or a "Beta." Yet these categories could be further broken down statistically into smaller personality traits in ways which echo the personality structures found in child and adult human subjects.

For example, Alpha personalities broke down into tendencies toward dominance and disinhibition. Beta personalities, in contrast, could be broken down into low dominance and positive emotionality. In all, the researchers found five personality factors that combined differently in each individual chimpanzee: conscientiousness, dominance, extraversion, agreeableness and intellect.

"These results are particularly significant in light of the striking parallels between the major dimensions of personality found between chimpanzees and humans," said Sam Gosling, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The findings reveal a neurobiological and evolutionary basis for personality. Not only that, but the new research reveals that chimps can be used as a basis for studying personality in humans.

The findings are published in the journal PLOS One.