'Unwilling' versus 'unable': Tonkean macaques' understanding of human goal-directed actions.

ABSTRACT: The present study investigated the understanding of goal-directed actions in Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) using the unwilling versus unable paradigm, previously used in several species. Subjects were tested in three experimental conditions that varied according to the goal-directed actions of a human actor. In the "unwilling" condition, the actor was capable of giving the subject food but unwilling to do it; in the "unable" condition, she was willing to give food but was unable to do it because of a physical barrier; and in the "distracted" condition, she was occupied by manipulating a pebble instead of food. We report for the first time that Tonkean macaques, like capuchins, chimpanzees and human infants, behaved differently across these experimental conditions. They a

SUBMITTER: Canteloup C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5419206 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature