Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery not just for humans, but for many primates. In human social interactions, people have an instinctive tendency to copy each other's body language and mannerisms, and previous studies have shown that such imitation gives rise to friendly feelings. Now a new study has found that capuchin monkeys respond to imitation in the same way, suggesting that the behavior may date back to early in our evolutionary history. The subtle aping
may promote the formation of social groups—building cooperation, reducing conflict, and aiding the survival of each individual [Scientific American].
To study the behavior in capuchin monkeys, which live in highly social groups of 30 or 40 individuals, the researchers gave each monkey
a Wiffle ball -- a lightweight plastic ball with holes in it. Monkeys typically poked the ball with their fingers, put it in their mouths or used it to pound ...
