apes playfully tease each other just like humans
Joking around is a key element of human interaction — one that starts emerging in babies as young as 8 months old, before they can even speak. Now, a new study is suggesting that the human instinct to play goes further back than previously thought.
An international team of cognitive biologists and primatologists documented playful teasing in the four species of great apes: orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. They identified 18 distinct teasing behaviors, indicating that “the prerequisites for humor evolved in the human lineage at least 13 million years ago,” per a press release.
“Similar to teasing in children, ape playful teasing involves one-sided provocation, response waiting in which the teaser looks toward the target’s face directly after a teasing action, repetition, and elements of surprise,” explained lead author Isabelle Laumer.
The concept of playful primates isn’t new — Jane Goodall previously documented such behavior — but this is the first study to systematically analyze it. “We hope that our study will inspire other researchers to study playful teasing in more species in order to better understand the evolution of this multifaceted behavior,” Laumer said.
—
“the very essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen,
the feeling that whatever happens, it’s okay…
you’re either free to play, or you’re not.”
-john cleese
—
source credits: Proceedings of the Royal Society, Laumer, Winkler, Rossano, Cartmill
photo credit: anup shah, getty
Discover more from I didn't have my glasses on....
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
Babies love to play and peekaboo is their favorite ❤️
LikeLiked by 3 people
yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😍💖💕
LikeLike
Not surprising at all. Dogs, cats, squirrels–maybe most young mammals play? And there seems to be a teasing aspect to it.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I agree
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are wired this way. Cool. 😎
LikeLiked by 3 people
absolutely
LikeLiked by 1 person
My teasing, and cheeky playfulness goes a long way back too!! (72 years)
LikeLiked by 3 people
same but different number, you are more experienced )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep … more time, more practice, and a more betterer teaser 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheeky behavior goes way back, Beth, thanks for the timeline!
LikeLiked by 3 people
No surprise, really )
LikeLike
I think we should find time every day to play :)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes!
LikeLike
Playfulness for good health, I say! Thanks for the encouragement, Beth. 🥰
LikeLiked by 3 people
Absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
For me the word “teasing” holds a negative meaning. As a child and pre-teen, I was teased/bullied. It was difficult, really difficult. But that teasing/bullying made me an empathetic adult and someone who is unwilling to allow anyone to bully me or others. Nope. Be nice. Be kind. Love one another.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, they can be a very negative thing. I think this was meant in the playful sense, but I was thinking about the same thing as my first reaction when I read this
LikeLike
Playing has been my life’s work. I kid thee not. Nobody is confused when they ask ‘what instrument do you play.’
LikeLiked by 3 people
And why is a ‘play’ called a play?
LikeLiked by 1 person
play acting as someone or something else, all not real, just play?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s just interesting that it’s called a ‘play.’ And we ‘play’ music. There’s real work involved, obviously, but we do say ‘play.’ We earth creatures do like to play and express joy. Isn’t playing expressing and sharing joy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
and me, as a teacher of young children as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a lifelong teaser and enjoyer of play, I live by both. There is a right and wrong way to tease, which is a key concept. What some people call teasing, is just plain cruel.
LikeLiked by 3 people
absolutely, it can be extremely different from play
LikeLiked by 1 person
We teased in the past and we’ll tease in the future!
LikeLiked by 3 people
yes, in a good way –
LikeLike
Playful teasing can be fun. Spiteful teasing can be cruel. The trick is knowing the difference.
LikeLiked by 2 people
exactly and that’s huge difference between them
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awh, this is cute, but when I think of our cat, I see the same pattern. How lovely! All creatures just want to be loved and enjoy life.
LikeLiked by 3 people
that’s it, exactly
LikeLiked by 1 person
so cute!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think so, too
LikeLike
I worry about my friends here. They’re about as playful as a rock.
LikeLiked by 3 people
that’s a challenge –
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know. I’ve heard that I’m scary, so maybe that’s why. Maybe in other contexts they are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
depends on who’s talking )
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is true! :D
LikeLike
I read that article about the apes, too. I was taken with how young they are when they begin to play.
LikeLiked by 3 people
isn’t it amazing?
LikeLike
Love the quote!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I believe his words to be true
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too!
LikeLike
Very nice! <3
LikeLiked by 3 people
thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
love that John Cleese quote —
LikeLiked by 3 people
he knows –
LikeLiked by 1 person
“the very essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen,
the feeling that whatever happens, it’s okay…
you’re either free to play, or you’re not.”
-john cleese
I love this
LikeLiked by 3 people
yes, and I so agree with him
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too 😁
LikeLike
Life is all about having fun but humans seem to have forgotten that and gone to war instead. Seems like a bad choice when fun is so much better.
LikeLiked by 3 people
so much so
LikeLike
❤️
LikeLike
My family tree seems to contain apes.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I see this as a positive, it seems to be a step up from some who have their roots in the amoeba clan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point!
LikeLiked by 1 person
that is so interesting, I shall definitely do some more research on this topic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
great )
LikeLike
Pingback: monkey business. – DIGITALNEWSLINK