The Science News report, Public tantrums defeat monkey moms too, offers research that further narrows the gap between humans and other primates. (Also google [Mama monkeys give in to tantrums…when others are watching].) Apparently, rhesus macaque mothers act like human mothers when it comes to nursing their babies. When other monkeys are nearby a mother will indulge her baby’s tantrum more. If she fails to do that, macaque onlookers nearby become irritated and make threatening gestures, or worse, toward the mother.
Human onlookers are irritated by baby human tantrums too, although rarely react so overtly. However, I expect many feel they would like to. Generally, irritated humans just groan and complain, at least to themselves. Isn’t it marvelous how science is inextricably chipping away at the superiority pedestal on which our species has so proudly stood? Rather than being made in God’s image, we are simply one fruit among many in life’s family tree.