Anthropology

Last edited Sat Feb 17, 2024, 04:06 AM - Edit history (1)

Do apes have humor?

By
Pranjal Mehar
14 Feb, 2024



Two gorillas playing © Max Block

Humor and laughter are essential for the flow of natural conversations. It acts as a facilitator of communication. Teasing has much in common with joking, and playful teasing may be seen as a cognitive precursor to joking.

Since language is not required for this behavior, similar playful teasing might occur in non-human animals. Now cognitive biologists and primatologists from the University of California Los Angeles, the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (Germany), Indiana University, and the University of California San Diego have documented playful teasing in four species of great apes species: orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas.

Scientists found that great apes, such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, are excellent subjects for playful teasing. This is because they are closely related to humans, engaging in social play and laughter and demonstrating a relatively advanced understanding of others’ expectations.

The researchers examined natural social interactions among great apes that seemed playful, teasing, or mildly provocative. They carefully observed the actions, body language, facial expressions, and reactions of both the teaser and the target of the teasing. Additionally, they analyzed whether the teasing behavior was intentional, looking for signs that it was directed at a particular individual, continued or became more intense over time and whether the teaser awaited a response from the target.

More:
https://www.techexplorist.com/great-apes-playfully-tease-each-other-study/81010/