A primatologist tracks grooming interactions in a group of 18 gorillas. If each pair independently engages in grooming with probability 0.25 during an observation window, what is the expected number of grooming pairs?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:31:42 +0000

A primatologist tracks grooming interactions in a group of 18 gorillas. During observation windows, each unique pair independently engages in grooming with a 25% chance. This seemingly quiet social behavior reveals patterns central to primate group dynamics—and reflects broader interests in animal behavior as a window into social resilience. Why are researchers and enthusiasts fascinated by these interactions now? In a culture increasingly attentive to nonverbal communication, emotional bonds, and social cohesion, studying grooming offers insight into how communities build trust and manage hierarchy