The psychology of gestures and gesture-like movements in non-human primates

Abstract

Research into gestural communication of nonhuman primates is often inspired by an interest in the evolutionary roots of human language. The focus on intentionally used behaviors is central to this approach that aims at investigating the cognitive mechanisms characterizing gesture use in monkeys and apes. This chapter describes some of the key characteristics that are important in this context, and discusses the evidence the claim is built on that gestures of, nonhuman primates represent intentionally and flexibly used means of communication. This chapter will first provide a brief introduction into what primates are and how a gesture is defined, before the psychological approach to gestural communication is described in more detail, with focus on the cognitive mechanisms underlying gesture use in nonhuman primates.