The Chimpanzee storyThere's two species here, separated by the river Congo. The Chimpanzee, and what used to be called bonobo chimps, now just bonobos. Bonobos are more slender, walk more upright and are genetically closest of current apes to humans.
First the Chimps.
From the studies of primate society behavior, comparisons with corporate s, religions and politicians, all have the same social structures as humans.
The only difference being that the bigger the brains the more complex the games, we have the Chimp story:
Early in the day the junior males all go out into the jungle, to forage for food for the troop.
The Alpha male sleeps in late, then gets up and picks a trail, walks a little then he waits. Hes found a bush to hide behind, built a comfy nest, and lazes away the day in cozy bliss.
One of the junior monkeys has been clever, he's secured a bunch of nice bananas, and doing this took quite some time. Those bananas were hanging out of reach of other chimps, but a creative chimp like him has found a way.
Hes looked at the problem long and hard, and inspiration came, a long branch with forked end was found nearby. Hes now got those bananas and is hurrying home, filled with pride and warm feelings, anticipating sharing those bananas with the troop.
When he comes around a corner, the Alpha leaps out and grabs him, drags him behind the bush and beats him to a pulp. Taking his bananas the Alpha strolls home to the troop, when he gets there he hoots look at what I've got. I've found these nice bananas, for everychimps enjoyment, and come enjoy the bounty all you lot.
He hands out the bananas, but keeps a few for coming plot. When later junior limps in, all bloody, covered in snot, Mr Alpha makes a big and special show. Hooting in fake horror, he shows all the other chimps, what a caring sorta dude he really is.
He makes soothing cooing noises, strokes juniors dishevelled fur, and says you poor chimp, whatever happened to you. Then he cracks a cheesy grin, staring junior in the eyes and says here, have a nice banana.
The Betas of the troop, those syncophont primates, smirk and give each other knowing grins. Those Capos know whats up, they've had their breaking process, they know it made them the chimps they are today. They pay homage to the Alpha, congratulations for his guile, with deferential pats and hoots of pleasure.
The Capos ain't too dumb, but they try to look that way, cause if the Alpha notices them being clever they'll be killed. Mr Alpha don't like smarties, they might knock him off his perch, and being on that perch is all he lives for.
The other junior primates, and the females of the troop, notice nothing at all of this nonsense. They want to think their leader noble, blind their ears and eyes to contrary evidence, and go on living quietly at their jobs.
Junior has a choice to make, one way is to be broken, have his empathy cross wired. He can learn to be a capo, enjoy pain and fear in others, and hate it when he see's them happy.
The other way is harder, he must be an outsider, learn to live as an Omega. These lonesome mystic chimps, spend life in isolation, perched in tallest trees and top of cliffs, they quietly meditate throughout their days.
Excluded to the edge of troop boundries, they have the most important function, calling warnings to the troop as rival troops invade. They get no thanks for this, no food is shared with them, but about that they care not one little bit. Humble and strong of spirit, they know that when they need it, they don't need to search for food, it finds them.
We've learned that should you take away Omegas, unlike any other chimps, the troop dies from invasion and deceit.
The female chimpanzee troop members, live their lives in bondage, closely guarded by the Alpha and his capos. They're supposed to bonk only for procreation, and only with the psychos, those dominating Alpha and his Betas. But sometimes young ones slip away, find themselves an Omega, and perpetuate his genes for all chimps benefit.
This seems appropriate here:
Fear & Love
Morcheeba
We always have a choice
Or at least I think we do
We can always use
our voice
I thought this to be true
We can live in fear
Extend our selves to love
We can fall below
Or lift our selves above
Fear
can stop you loving
Love
can stop your fear
Fear
can stop you loving
But its not always that clear
I always try so hard
To share my self around
But now I'm closing up again
Drilling through the ground
Fear
can stop you loving
Love
can stop your fear
Fear
can stop you loving
But its not always that
clear
I'd love to give my self away
But I find it hard to
trust
I've got no map to find my way
Amongst these clouds of
dust
Fear
can stop you loving
Love
can stop your fear
Fear
can stop you loving
Love
can stop your fear
Fear
can stop you loving
Love
can stop your fear
Fear can stop you loving
But
it's not always that clear
But
it's not always that clear
But
it's not always that clear
But
it's not always that clear
The Bonobo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo story is much lighter, an exception in primate societies, other than the human story of pre-patriarchal cultures that ruled the world before the recent era, they :
The Bonobos don't form their hierarchies with violence, they do it with love.
They are all bisexual, and are the only species, other than the humans, on this planet that make love whether or not they are currently fertile.
Most of their social interactions involve sex. They use sex to say hello, goodbye, I'm the boss of you, and sorry for your loss.
"Sex functions in conflict appeasement, affection, social status, excitement, and stress reduction. It occurs in virtually all partner combinations and in a variety of positions. This is a factor in the lower levels of aggression seen in the bonobo when compared to the common chimpanzee and other apes." quote
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonoboAs far as their hierarchies go, all the females rank higher than any male, and if you're a male your rank - and breeding opportunities - are set by how much respect your mother has in the troupe.