- It has been observed that teasing behavior is also seen in great ape species and is not unique to humans.
- Great apes play social games, laugh, and have a sophisticated understanding of others’ expectations.
- Researchers note that teasing behavior in great apes is similar to teasing and joking in human babies.
Teasing behavior is not unique to humans. This behavior has been observed in four different great ape species, indicating that this form of humor probably evolved at least 13 million years ago. Great apes, closely related to humans, engage in social games, laugh, and display relatively sophisticated understandings of the expectations of others. This makes them perfect candidates for pranksters.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, involved observations of captive orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas. Researchers analyzed spontaneous social interactions that appeared playful, mildly abusive, or provocative. At the end of the analysis, the researchers identified 18 different playful behaviors, such as tickling, poking, hair pulling and hiding under an object. It has been observed that these behaviors are often used to get a response from the target or to attract their attention.
While playfulness in great apes took many forms, it differed from general play because it was usually one-sided. Joking behavior came from messing with the other party and was rarely reciprocated. Fooling occurred primarily when the monkeys were relaxed and typically involved the jester looking directly at the target’s face to await a response.
Researchers noted that playful behavior in great apes is similar to playful behavior in human babies. This suggests that playful behaviors and their cognitive prerequisites may have been present in our last common ancestor, 13 million years ago. This study sheds light on the evolutionary origins of teasing behavior. The importance of studying play behavior in nonhuman primates to better understand the development of social cognition and communication in humans is emphasized.
Compiled by: Eliz Canyurt