It seems like every time scientists ask whether great apes are
capable of an advanced cognitive ability, the answer is yes.
Chimpanzees, in particular, seem to push the limits of what we
think non-human primates are capable of: they plan ahead, they
exhibit altruism, and some have incredible memory skills. Most
recently, researchers asked whether chimpanzees exhibit a
sophisticated social behavior called “third-party punishment.”
This behavior occurs when one individual punishes another
individual for a transgression that did not directly harm the
punisher. So in a chimp's case, it might involve an individual
punishing a fellow group-member for stealing food from a
different group member. The behavior is considered cognitively
advanced, as the punisher must not only understand that the
transgression was unfair despite not being involved, but must
also be willing to incur some cost and no immediate material
gain from the punishment. Third-party punishment is seen often
in human societies, and is thought to mai