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Apes can guess what others are thinking - just like humans, study finds
The Guardian
Format: Magazine Article
Publication Date: 2016/10/06/
Sources ID: 39281
Collection: Theory of Mind
Visibility: Public (group default)
Abstract: (Show)
Apes have a human-like ability to guess what others are thinking, even in cases when someone holds a mistaken belief, according to research that supports the view that other primates can empathise and have complex inner lives.The findings, in chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, are the first to clearly demonstrate that apes can predict another’s beliefs – even when they know that presumption is false. “This cognitive ability is at the heart of so many human social skills,” said Christopher Krupenye of Duke University. “I think our findings start to suggest that maybe apes have a deeper understanding of each other than we previously thought.”