This article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/science/23obmacaque.html?_r=1&ref=science
One of the primary ways in which we understand our own behavior is by studying the behavior of our primate relatives. Recently, researchers from Germany have studied the social bonding among male macaques and they have noticed some striking similarities between these Thai monkeys and human beings. This is another “Observatory” article by Sindya N. Bhanoo and she does well in drawing the reader in by giving him/her something to connect with in the first sentence: “The human tendency to form close bonds with people other than kin may have primal roots.”
The story is concise and clear. After briefly describing the details of the research, Bhanoo quickly moves on to one of the more important questions regarding the study: why is it an evolutionary benefit to form friends? A little more than halfway through, she provides an answer: “The bonds can lead to the forming of coalitions, where a group of males might fight another male to improve rank and social status, the researchers found.” She then quotes the lead scientist, expanding on that observation; and she finishes with questions still unanswered, including the nature of friendships among female macaques. The great thing about this article is that it makes you think. By establishing the link between these monkeys and humans in the first sentence, Bhanoo successfully engages the reader and makes him/her think about his/her own friendships and why they may be beneficial.
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