He’s small, hairy… and chewable. Punch, a young Japanese macaque abandoned at birth by his mother, has the whole world in stitches. On the networks, as well as around his enclosure, praise for him is pouring in – so much so that the little protégé of the Ichikawa zoo is now making the front page of the press. But how can we explain such enthusiasm? Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, analyzes the “Punch” phenomenon for True Medical.
Punch was abandoned at birth by his mother
The story of Punch moved the whole world. When he was born, this little monkey was quickly rejected by his mother, probably “exhausted by her first birth and the summer heat.
Result ? The little Japanese macaque finds himself alone and isolated, deprived of all affection. The healers then have the idea of using
“rolled up towels and various stuffed animals, from which Punch chose an orangutan.” From then on, the young macaque never let go of his Ikea stuffed toy, acting as a substitute parent.
“The plush’s fur is easy to grab, and its ape-like appearance gave it a feeling of security; he even used it to sleep”, confide the zoo keepers.
Since this episode, numerous videos concerning him have circulated on social networks. Internet users, upset by his misadventures, are closely following the evolution of the little monkey, who is gradually trying to integrate with other primates. News is also regularly shared under the hashtag #HangInTherePunch (“Hang in there, Punch”).
In Japan, the young macaque has even become a real star: last weekend, around 8,000 people went to the zoo – more than double the number of usual visitors – the establishment said on Friday.
And if we can only admit that little Punch is adorable, how can we explain such an outpouring of affection towards him? For Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, this enthusiasm can be explained by a mirror effect: “He upsets us because he looks like us”.
A disturbing proximity to us
It is a fact recognized by science: when we see another being eating, sleeping or moving in the same way as us, our mirror neurons activate and awaken our empathy.
“His hands. His gaze. The way he grips. We immediately project humanity onto him. It’s a truly archaic reflex: perceiving something similar is enough to activate our empathy”, recognizes Amélie Boukhobza. “Punch therefore touches us because it manages to activate this link.”
Here, Internet users almost consider the little monkey as a child: “Cas if the animal were innocent, by definition. Without strategy. Without duplicity. He suffers. And faced with what he undergoes, the emotion is immediate.” she admits. With a human, doubt sets in more easily: we analyze, we question, we debate.
“Whereas with an animal, we instantly feel the desire to protect,” admits the expert.
In other words: being indignant for an animal is easier than being indignant for a human. “Human conflicts are complex, political, ambiguous… The animal brings people together. It creates an almost pure collective emotion. Little division, little ideology”, confides the psychologist.
Then comes the context – which is very important here.
“We live saturated with anxiety-provoking information: wars, violence, crises… The nervous system is overwhelmed. So an animal story becomes a point of emotional release. We put everything into it: anger, sadness, helplessness accumulated elsewhere”, analyzes Amélie Boukhobza.
Ultimately, this little monkey becomes the support for a collective emotion and social networks amplify this phenomenon.
“Repeated videos, a first name, a narration. A story. Punch becomes a character in its own right, to which we become attached. Because we need it!”, she concludes.