This is the final version. Available on open access from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this record. Data Availability: We fully respect and endorse the philosophy and derived data and computer code availability policy of PLOS, and would in fact welcome and encourage replications and extensions of our work. Access to the raw CCTV footage data will be granted by signing an agreement stating that the applicant (1) will use the data only for scientific purposes, (2) will not make the data accessible to third parties, and (3) will not publish results that will disclose the identity of the subjects in the data. To request access to the raw footage files or inquire about the conditions, please contact Ho-Young Wisselink, datamanager at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), at email address [email protected]. The analyzed data file with coded observations of the video footage and the code descriptions are added as supplementary files (S1 File and S2 File) to the manuscript submission. This allows readers to replicate the analytical parts of our research.Post-aggression consolation is assumed to occur in humans as well as in chimpanzees.
While consolation following peer aggression has been observed in children, systematic evidence of consolation in human adults is rare. We used surveillance camera footage of the
immediate aftermath of nonfatal robberies to observe the behaviors and characteristics of
victims and bystanders. Consistent with empathy explanations, we found that consolation
was linked to social closeness rather than physical closeness. While females were more
likely to console than males, males and females were equally likely to be consoled. Furthermore, we show that high levels of threat during the robbery increased the likelihood of
receiving consolation afterwards. These patterns resemble post-aggression consolation in
chimpanzees and suggest that emotions of empathic concern are involved in consolation
across humans and chimpanzees.Netherlands National Polic
