Publications [#352026] of Michael Tomasello

Journal Articles

1. Evans, A; Tomasello, M (1986). Evidence for social referencing in young chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).. Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology, 47(1), 49-54. [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/05/12)

   Abstract:
   A captive chimpanzee group was observed in order to determine the extent to which the social interactions of the infants and juveniles (18-50 months) were affected by their mothers' relationships with other adult group members. It was found that the young chimpanzees initiated more interactions with adults who interacted more with their mothers. A vast majority of those interactions occurred at significant distances from the mother. It is argued that these data imply a social-cognitive ability in young chimpanzees closely related to the human infant's ability to use its mother in 'social referencing'.