The Mentalities of Gorillas and Orangutans

Comparative Perspectives

Sue Taylor Parker editor Robert W Mitchell editor H Lyn Miles editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:26th Aug '99

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The Mentalities of Gorillas and Orangutans cover

This interesting 1999 study sets gorilla and orangutan cognitive abilities in context with the other great apes and humans.

Gorillas and orangutans are closely related to humans, but their mental abilities have been largely neglected in attempts to understand how our intelligence might have evolved. This 1999 book sets all the great apes in context with humans, providing the complete picture of hominoid cognitive evolution for the first time.Research on the mental abilities of chimpanzees and bonobos has been widely celebrated and used in reconstructions of human evolution. In contrast, less attention has been paid to the abilities of gorillas and orangutans. This 1999 volume aims to help complete the picture of hominoid cognition by bringing together the work on gorillas and orangutans and setting it in comparative perspective. The introductory chapters set the evolutionary context for comparing cognition in gorillas and orangutans to that of chimpanzees, bonobos and humans. The remaining chapters focus primarily on the kinds and levels of intelligence displayed by orangutans and gorillas compared to other great apes, including performances in the classic domains of tool use and tool making, imitation, self-awareness, social communication and symbol use. All those wanting more information on the mental abilities of these sometimes neglected, but important primates will find this book a treasure trove.

'… this book contains much valuable information on gorillas' and orang-utans' mental life.' Animal Behaviour
'… and the present volume will go a long way towards bringing gorillas and orangutans back into the limelight of modern comparative cognition. For that the editors and contributors should be commended.' James R. Anderson, The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology

ISBN: 9780521580274

Dimensions: 236mm x 157mm x 25mm

Weight: 835g

432 pages