Starting from scratch : the origin and development of expression, representation, and symbolisation in human and non-human primates / John Matthews.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Matthews, John, 1945-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mental representation.

Perception.

Primates.

Symbolism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (393 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Psychology Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book compares the beginning of symbolic thought in human infancy with that of our close primate relatives, the chimpanzees. The author investigates the precursors of symbolism by studying the actions and interactions of a small group of these intelligent, non-human primates who live in Singapore Zoo.Drawing upon his years of detailed observations, Matthews offers an in-depth analysis and interpretation of chimp behaviour to present an unprecedented account of the beginnings of symbolic thought. The book shows that the actions the chimpanzees perform have structural and se

Contents:

Book Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; List of figures; Foreword; Introduction; 1 Expression, representation and symbolism; 2 Genesis; 3 Spontaneously generated expressive structure; 4 Structural principles: Modification, variation and extension of First Generation Actions; 5 The meaning of the moving hand; 6 Directions and locations; 7 The end of the line; 8 Repetition and variation upon a structural theme; 9 The giving of meaning; 10 Sentences in the sky; 11 Point-of-arrival and moment-of-impact; 12 Helping hands; 13 Shape, form and symmetry; 14 Empathy and imagination; 15 Dialogue

16 Dynamic-structure17 Continuous-rotation; 18 In a spin: Continuous-rotation continued; 19 Bottoms-up: Script-violation; 20 Rotation around an axis; 21 Rhythm; 22 A new kind of desire; 23 Deep structure; 24 The image; 25 Shapes of things to come; 26 The dynamic knot; 27 Drawing and writing; 28 Description; 29 The scratch; 30 Agon; 31 Dying slave; 32 Sack-cloth and ashes; 33 Ida draws; Conclusion; References; Author index; Subject index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-136-89422-5

1-282-92993-3

9786612929939

0-203-84081-X

9780203840818

OCLC:

741356629