Green | August 29, 2008 | 16 comments

Monkeys find giving rewarding

source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml;jsessionid=QCVI3T31WFGTLQFIQM...

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A new study is suggesting that animals can be altruistic, after it found that monkeys enjoy giving. The research involved capuchin monkeys, who were offered a choice to either selfishly reward themselves with food, or to give some to another capuchin as well. They found that the monkeys were far more likely to choose the 'altruistic' option when paired with a monkey they knew - researchers believe that the pleasure of seeing another monkey happy is behind the drive for sharing, which is common to primate species.
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16 comments // Monkeys find giving rewarding

  • BerryHippieGurl
    • 0
      BerryHippieGurl  

    • Like the article said. "They found that the monkeys were far more likely to choose the 'altruistic' option when paired with a monkey they knew." Thats why they be sharing, humans can share too if they share with someone they care and know about. If not it just prooves they are selfish and don't care as they really should, fully to the other person. So my point, not all humans are selfish but some are. =p they are cute monkeys btw.

    • 3 years ago
  • Bood
  • MrOscar
  • richjm
    • 0
      richjm  

    • I'm definitely a sucker for animals made more interesting by 'humanising' them a little. I don't mean making them wear hats and tiny shoes or giving them surnames etc. I'm talking about animals doing things naturally in their wild environment - things that we'd normally associate with people.

      In this video, a leopard kills a mummy baboon and then appears to feel guilty when he/she spots her baby (which is insanely cute, by the way) cowering near by.

      A word of caution; the ending will definitely make your eyes sweat.

    • 3 years ago
  • SDLN
  • SDLN
  • Betico
  • jimmyp
  • fiat_lux088
  • Babaganate
  • Mixedberries
    • 0
      Mixedberries  

    • But is this true altruism? The survival and success of primate groups depends on their social behavior. If you share a little food with your friend today, are you hoping that they'll share with you down the road? Of course they're not consciously thinking this, but if that kind of behavior is beneficial, then is it surprising that pleasure may become linked to it? Then how can you really call it altruism?

    • 3 years ago
  • flyingkick
    • 0
      flyingkick  

    • Claiming the monkeys experience 'pleasure' from giving is just speculation. You could draw a lot of conclusions as to why the capuchins give food to monkeys they know. Maybe they just want their group to be strong and well fed, to ensure survival.
      I would say that capuchins giving food to monkeys they DON'T know would be stronger evidence of 'altruism'.

    • 3 years ago
  • PoliticalGeek
    • 0
      PoliticalGeek  
    • flyingkick:

      There was more activity in the pleasure part of the brain after giving to a relative. That isn't conjecture.

      It could very well be that the monkey that enjoyed sharing with relatives helped their troops be the stronger and therefor the most successful thus spreading the gene that links positive feelings with the giving. Giving to another troop only builds up the competition.

    • 3 years ago
  • julesrs007
  • ssppeencceerr
  • MissAmanda
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