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. “This cognitive ability is at the heart of so many human social skills,” said Christopher Krupenye of Duke University. The findings overturn the view that the ability to place oneself in another’s shoes is uniquely human. But when it came to predicting what someone else was thinking, even when they were wrong, apes consistently failed the test. “King Kong is somewhat ape-like but also unfamiliar and novel, and we knew that these elements would enhance apes’ attention,” said Krupenye.

Source: The Guardian October 06, 2016 18:01 UTC