Monkeys know bad deal, while humans pay by the minute to consult psychic friends

[Beagle]

Reconsidering the “unique” nature of human intelligence.

In a study being published today, scientists report that for the first time a species of nonhuman primate knows when it has been treated unfairly.

Scientists at Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University in Atlanta studied capuchin monkeys, known for their social system built on cooperation. The social groups consist of one dominant male and three to six adult females and their offspring.

The study involved a simple exchange: Two female residents of a colony were each given a small token – a granite pebble. When they returned it to the researcher, they received a slice of cucumber. Those exchanges were completed 95 percent of the time.

But when a monkey got a grape instead, the rate of completed exchanges fell to 60 percent as the other monkey often refused to accept the cucumber slice, took it and threw it away, or handed it to the other capuchin.

I bet they don’t watch HSN either.

[auntie_em]

So the lesson to be learned here is “Never accept a cucumber when there are grapes to be had.”

[CrazyMonkey]

I caught an article about this yesterday, and thought it was just stupid. Unless there are some major details about this experiment not described in the article, I don’t see how the observed behavior can decisively lead to the conclusion that these monkeys have a sense of fairness. To me it seems more like just a matter of distraction.

My dog will do tricks for doggie-treats all day, but if someone starts handing out juicy steak bites to the other dog, my dog won’t give me the time of day for some crappy Milkbone. It’s not because she thinks she’s not getting a fair deal – she’s just too distracted by the existence of delicious juicy steak in the room.

[dogbutler]

CrazyMonkey what do you prefer,cucumbers or grapes?

[Beagle]

My dog will do tricks for doggie-treats all day, but if someone starts handing out juicy steak bites to the other dog, my dog won’t give me the time of day for some crappy Milkbone. It’s not because she thinks she’s not getting a fair deal – she’s just too distracted by the existence of delicious juicy steak in the room.

Doggie-treats? Juicy steak bites? I’d do the same thing.

I’ve noticed that with multiple dogs they are very conscious of what the other dogs are getting. Due to a lack of verbal communication, it’s hard to tell exactly what they are thinking. But, if one dog gets something special it can start a chain reaction.