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Published on: May 5, 2015
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When and how do non-human great apes communicate to support cooperation?
1Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1H 0AP, UK.
Summary
Great apes communicate during cooperative tasks, with communication influenced by challenges and social bonds. While apes can signal intentionally, recipients struggle to interpret the information, suggesting cooperation
Area of Science:
- Primate communication
- Comparative psychology
- Evolution of language
Background:
- Human language may stem from cooperation needs.
- Great ape communication in joint actions is understudied.
- Assumptions of manipulation and competition in ape communication persist.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate great ape communication during joint action tasks.
- Examine factors influencing communication likelihood and type.
- Assess intentionality in ape communication production and reception.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental cooperative tasks involving great apes.
- Analysis of situational challenges and knowledge asymmetry.
- Evaluation of physical proximity and social bond effects.
Main Results:
- Communication likelihood is affected by task challenges and knowledge asymmetry.
- Proximity and social bonds influence communication occurrence and type.
- Apes demonstrate intentionality in producing signals, but recipients struggle with interpretation.
Conclusions:
- Situational factors and social relationships modulate great ape communication.
- An asymmetry exists between signal production and reception.
- Further research can clarify cooperation's role in shaping ape communication.
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