Embracing, one of the most widespread forms of human affiliation, plays important roles in other primates as well. Human embracing occurs in a great variety of social contexts. It can be a greeting display to announce the recognition of one another, it can provide comfort to others (e.g. consolation) and reduce anxiety in the receiver. Human embraces favour subsequent social contacts and are generally preceded by affiliative facial displays (e.g. smiling). Moreover, embracing morphology can be predictive of the intimacy of the relationship between subjects. To explore the biological roots and test some hypotheses on the function of embracing at an evolutionary level, a comparative approach is necessary. To reach the goal, we selected Theropithecus gelada as a model species. Geladas live in one-male society whose components (especially females!) show high levels of affiliation and cohesion. In geladas, embraces are performed in four different ways, two involving frontal contact and two directed to the posterior. Our data show that, as in humans, gelada embraces are mainly associated with a positive facial expression (lip-smacking) and favour the onset of social interactions (grooming). It is performed almost exclusively by adult females especially when they share a good relationship. Moreover, the most intimate forms of embraces, the frontal ones, highly reflect the strength of the bond between subjects thus suggesting that morphology of embraces can be predictive of their function. Finally, a linkage between embracing and other-oriented behaviours seems to exist: the best embracers were also the best consolers. In conclusion, even though the "embracing issue" remains open, some features of this behaviour seem to be shared between human and non-human primates.
Not only a human affair: embracing behaviour in Theropithecus gelada
PALAGI, ELISABETTA
2013-01-01
Abstract
Embracing, one of the most widespread forms of human affiliation, plays important roles in other primates as well. Human embracing occurs in a great variety of social contexts. It can be a greeting display to announce the recognition of one another, it can provide comfort to others (e.g. consolation) and reduce anxiety in the receiver. Human embraces favour subsequent social contacts and are generally preceded by affiliative facial displays (e.g. smiling). Moreover, embracing morphology can be predictive of the intimacy of the relationship between subjects. To explore the biological roots and test some hypotheses on the function of embracing at an evolutionary level, a comparative approach is necessary. To reach the goal, we selected Theropithecus gelada as a model species. Geladas live in one-male society whose components (especially females!) show high levels of affiliation and cohesion. In geladas, embraces are performed in four different ways, two involving frontal contact and two directed to the posterior. Our data show that, as in humans, gelada embraces are mainly associated with a positive facial expression (lip-smacking) and favour the onset of social interactions (grooming). It is performed almost exclusively by adult females especially when they share a good relationship. Moreover, the most intimate forms of embraces, the frontal ones, highly reflect the strength of the bond between subjects thus suggesting that morphology of embraces can be predictive of their function. Finally, a linkage between embracing and other-oriented behaviours seems to exist: the best embracers were also the best consolers. In conclusion, even though the "embracing issue" remains open, some features of this behaviour seem to be shared between human and non-human primates.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
