Final answer:
Early primate behaviors were once thought to be simple and related only to survival needs, but research reveals a rich complexity involving empathy, reciprocity, and intricate social interactions important for psychological well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early considerations of primate behaviors were simplistic and associated with needs like feeding, reproduction, and basic survival. However, contemporary research has significantly broadened our understanding of primate behavior to include complex social dynamics and cognitive abilities. Primates, including apes and monkeys, exhibit a variety of social behaviors that suggest a capacity for empathy and reciprocity, which are seen as the basis for human morality. Studies such as those by Frans de Waal and the famous findings of Harry and Margaret Harlow show that primates engage in intricate social behaviors and develop deep social bonds.
The necessity for early social contact was demonstrated by the Harlows' research. Their studies with rhesus monkeys highlighted the importance of social comfort over mere sustenance, signaling the depth of primates' social and emotional needs. Primates communicate through touch, grooming, and facial expressions, and have complex strategies regarding mating and cooperation within their social hierarchies. Furthermore, experiments with language learning abilities among great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas have provided insights into the precursors of human language, suggesting an innate capacity for complex communication.