For the podcast this week, we continue our discussion of the book, Civilized to Death by Christopher Ryan. We dive into his opinions on how the civilized world deals with sex and how vastly different our ancient ancestors viewed sex. 

Humans are commonly compared to chimpanzees because they’re our closest relatives, genetically speaking. Therefore, scientists use their behavior to explain our behavior. Chimpanzees use tools and also partake in organized group conflict which is uncommon in the animal kingdom. The only other animal to do this is humans. 

However, humans are just as closely related to another species, the bonobo. This group of chimpanzees rarely fight and use sex as a form of currency. They partake in various types of sexual acts and view it as a way to maintain a peaceful and functional environment for everyone. 

So why shouldn’t humans be compared to bonobos when it comes to their views on sex? This is the question we discuss on this week’s podcast.