Final answer:
Female chimps are promiscuous as part of their reproductive and social strategy. This behavior encourages mating with male 'friends', promotes social bonds, decreases aggression within the group, and may reduce the threat of infanticide by confusing paternity. Females are central to primate social structures, and sexual behavior serves multiple roles beyond reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses why female chimps exhibit promiscuous behavior, referenced to scholarly discussions by researchers like Sarah Blaffer Hrdy. This behavior can be understood as a part of their reproductive strategy within the social structure of their species. Females may mate with several males, a behavior described as opportunistic mating, which can have various social and reproductive advantages.
Female chimps' mating strategies have been studied extensively, and it turns out that both males and females are active strategists. Females may show preferences to mate with certain male 'friends' rather than aggressive or dominant males, which can be beneficial for both parties involved. Friendliness and cooperation between sexes may serve as a better reproductive strategy than pure aggression and dominance among males.
Moreover, the sexual behavior of primates, including female chimps, contributes to the social cohesion of the group. It serves not only for reproduction but also for establishing kinship and solidarity, particularly among females who are the core of primate social life. The sexual openness of female chimps may also function as a buffer against male aggression by confusing paternity and thereby reducing the risk of infanticide by males, which is a common threat in some primate societies.