This Gorilla’s Post-Fight Reflection Looks Eerily Human

Quick Take

• A gorilla's post-fight behavior went so viral it made people question where the line between animal instinct and human emotion actually sits. See Kiyomasa's viral moment →
• Gorillas can self-reflect, though the way they do it is nothing like what you'd expect from a human. Explore gorilla self-reflection →
• After a gorilla fight, one specific ritual determines whether the group ever returns to normal, and the loser is the one who has to make the first move. See the reconciliation ritual →
• The male was not the one who ended the fight, and that power shift has everything to do with how gorilla hierarchies actually work. Understand the power shift →

Gorillas are very intelligent creatures who experience many of the same emotions that humans do. Some of these heightened emotions can lead to arguments. But as one gorilla learned, sometimes things can be taken too far, leading one to rethink aggressive actions.

Gorilla Appears to Rethink His Actions Post-Argument

Post-arguments are a time to rehash the incident and determine just where things began to go south. A gorilla appeared to do just that after getting into an altercation that left him isolated from his troupe.

A gorilla named Kiyomasa recently got into an altercation with his mate. While there is no video of what led to the dispute, the aftermath has gone viral on Instagram. Many can relate to the introspective behavior Kiyomasa exhibits.

The fight between Kiyomasa and his fellow gorilla led the female to push him out of their enclosure. In the moments after the heated interaction, Kiyomasa was seen sitting alone. His behavior was very subdued, as if he were reflecting on what had happened. Whether this is the case, no one can be sure.

What is clear is that Kiyomasa was involved in an incident that threatened to shake up the troupe’s hierarchy. Consequently, he was chased off until a time for reconciliation could be arranged, which is common for gorillas.

Are Gorillas Capable of Self-Reflection?

People tend to attribute human emotions to animal behavior, but do animals experience feelings the same way? As science is proving, many animals are capable of some level of emotional intelligence. In the case of gorillas, the emotional intelligence they possess is qualitatively similar to that of humans.

Gorillas are capable of a wide variety of emotions. Some of the most common include:

• Empathy
• Joy
• Anger
• Fear
• Grief
• Sadness

In addition, gorillas have the capacity for self-reflection. These great apes interpret how their emotions affect the group dynamic rather than the individual gorilla. This understanding helps offending gorillas move toward making amends with those they have wronged, which restores order and peace to the group as a whole.

How Gorillas Repair Relationships After Transgressions

After an argument breaks out between two or more gorillas in a group, the relationship between them needs to be repaired before the group dynamic can return to normal.

Gorillas use grooming to foster reconciliation. After the tension has died down, the gorilla who came out on the losing end of the disagreement will approach the higher-ranking member who was offended. This not only signals to the higher-ranking gorilla that the other party no longer wants to maintain tension, but also that they are submitting.

Whether it is the winner or the loser that does the grooming can vary. But when gorillas accept grooming after a dispute, both parties are communicating that they want to rebuild the relationship. This not only maintains the social structure within the group but also allows the group to exist peacefully with one another without having to take sides in the aftermath of the conflict.