Primate Communication
Human beings are primates, as are monkeys, and great apes. Observing our nonhuman primates it wouldn't take long before one would notice the behaviors of the nonhuman primate as being very similar to a human's behavior. A person may observe similar facial expressions, physical movements, or interactions with another nonhuman primate that could strengthen a person's confidence in knowing there has to be a connection in evolutionary history between the nonhuman primates and humans. Ape-like gestures can often look very human to us at a very basic level such as shaking the head to indicate "no" or begging for food with an open hand. Although a nonhuman primate will not execute an actual complex language such as English …show more content…
Observing nonhuman primates, however, it is easy to see similarities beyond that of facial features. There are similarities in development according to Myers, because of mirror neurons located in the humans as well as the primates as discussed in Exploring Psychology, there are similarities in the physical and cognitive development of humans and nonhuman primates. Not only can nonhuman primates imitate facial expressions, but they can also imitate actions. There are other observable actions such as the use of the hands and feet when handling an object or the ability to observe another performing a task and then repeating it that also show similarities in the basic nature of primates, (Myers, 2010). This allows a social intelligence for primates as a very basic level. Because of this ability to mirror another's facial expressions or actions, we are able to more closely relate to what the individual must feel. For instance, when a young primate chooses to engage in a screaming tantrum, the typical response of those around him is to offer sympathy or aid. This is a condition known as an "emotional contagion" or "when the emotional state of one individual induces a matching or closely related state in another" explains Frans deWaal in his book Primates and Philosophers. The ability to understand the needs of another has been made possible because of mirror neurons. He goes on to explain that without this important attribute the state of empathy would never develop in either
Human beings are primates, as are monkeys, and great apes. Observing our nonhuman primates it wouldn't take long before one would notice the behaviors of the nonhuman primate as being very similar to a human's behavior. A person may observe similar facial expressions, physical movements, or interactions with another nonhuman primate that could strengthen a person's confidence in knowing there has to be a connection in evolutionary history between the nonhuman primates and humans. Ape-like gestures can often look very human to us at a very basic level such as shaking the head to indicate "no" or begging for food with an open hand. Although a nonhuman primate will not execute an actual complex language such as English …show more content…
Observing nonhuman primates, however, it is easy to see similarities beyond that of facial features. There are similarities in development according to Myers, because of mirror neurons located in the humans as well as the primates as discussed in Exploring Psychology, there are similarities in the physical and cognitive development of humans and nonhuman primates. Not only can nonhuman primates imitate facial expressions, but they can also imitate actions. There are other observable actions such as the use of the hands and feet when handling an object or the ability to observe another performing a task and then repeating it that also show similarities in the basic nature of primates, (Myers, 2010). This allows a social intelligence for primates as a very basic level. Because of this ability to mirror another's facial expressions or actions, we are able to more closely relate to what the individual must feel. For instance, when a young primate chooses to engage in a screaming tantrum, the typical response of those around him is to offer sympathy or aid. This is a condition known as an "emotional contagion" or "when the emotional state of one individual induces a matching or closely related state in another" explains Frans deWaal in his book Primates and Philosophers. The ability to understand the needs of another has been made possible because of mirror neurons. He goes on to explain that without this important attribute the state of empathy would never develop in either