Study: Monkeys Like Giving And Receiving

Show Empathy Toward Monkeys In Same Social Group, But Are Less Generous With Strangers

(AP)  For capuchin monkeys, it seems, it's better to both give and receive than just to receive.

At least, that is what researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, have found.

Monkeys were given a choice of receiving a food reward, or receiving a food reward and also having another monkey receive food.

When paired with relative or "friend" the monkeys primarily went for the double reward, known as the "prosocial" choice, researchers led by Frans de Waal report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The fact the capuchins predominantly selected the prosocial option must mean seeing another monkey receive food is satisfying or rewarding for them," said de Waal.

But the monkeys were not so generous with strangers, choosing the so-called "selfish" option instead.

"We believe prosocial behavior is empathy based. Empathy increases in both humans and animals with social closeness, and in our study, closer partners made more prosocial choices. They seem to care for the welfare of those they know," de Waal said in a statement.

Now the question is whether giving is self-rewarding to capuchins because they can eat together, or if the monkeys simply like to see the other monkey enjoying the food.

In the study, eight adult female capuchins were given tokens to exchange for food. One token got them a slice of apple. The other also got an apple slice, plus a similar slice was given to another monkey they could see.

In a series of tests, when the "partner" monkey was a relative or a familiar female from the same social group, the one choosing the token moved closer to the partner and primarily chose the prosocial token that got them both food. But when the second monkey was a stranger, the selfish token was more likely to be chosen, often with the lead monkey turning her back to the stranger.

Since the reward was the same for the monkey making the choice, de Waal suggested there must be some intangible benefit to the prosocial choice, perhaps an indication of empathy.

[sistatee-2009]

You throw food to the monkeys at "Monkey Island", and they throw feces back at you. Reminds ya of the government in a lotta ways.

[pollroller1]

You throw food to the monkeys at "Monkey Island", and they throw feces back at you. Reminds ya of the government in a lotta ways.

Posted by SistaTee at 02:21 PM : Aug 26, 2008

SistaTee, That''s a good one. LOL

[fibonacci_89]

I hope no religious people start spouting off here. STOP DISSING APES! They are cool. And I am a great ape myself.

[puritan9]

Too bad none of the monkeys are congressmen, senators or oil company execs. They only know to receive.

[xoynx]

This study reinforces my belief that socialism can work only when confined to very small communities. We just don''t care about those whom we don''t know.

[rf35]

8 adult females seems like an awfully small study group. I''d like to see the results with male-male, female-male, and male-female pairings. Also, various ages could be used to see when this behaviour begins. In human children, the level of selfishness tends to decrease as they age.

[xxunknown]

Study: Monkeys Like Giving And Receiving (fill in the blank).

[hypnotoad72]

This study reinforces my belief that socialism can work only when confined to very small communities. We just don''''t care about those whom we don''''t know.

Posted by Xoynx
------

Like a politician once said. We''re not a society. Only individual men, women, and families. I hope that politician doesn''t get any taxpayer money.

[haoli25]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?

[cdfoxtrot2]

"Study: Monkeys Like Giving And Receiving". Proving that even monkeys have a great sense of compassion than Republicans.

[rushliberal]

Study: Monkeys Like Giving And Receiving

So does Bill Clinton - heeheeheehee

-BUTT--

Republicans just like sticking it to you.

[republic1776]

Xoynx,
Socilism was is NOT why the USA was founded.
America is a Rebublic.
There''s plenty of Socialist Countries, one can move to any apply for citizenship AND 78 percent tax rate!

[deacon20081]

I have a Parrot that likes to give and recieve.
I give him food, He gives me a cage to clean.
Like Republicans, we give them Tax Dollars and they give us crapola to clean up.

[republic1776]

deacon20081,
GREAT Point!
We should pay very little in taxes NOT Hundrerds per paycheck.
We''ll take care of our own affairs.
Health Care
Travel
Food we consume.
Drugs.
Just to get rid of a few.....to start.

[hypnotoad72]

Xoynx,
Socilism was is NOT why the USA was founded.
America is a Rebublic.
There''''s plenty of Socialist Countries, one can move to any apply for citizenship AND 78 percent tax rate!

Posted by republic1776
----------

Wasn''t the US founded to escape religious persecution and to throw tea into a harbor because they thought Gaia needed a caffeine buzz?

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is no monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is not as good as the monkey.

[mnbrant]

Was this study completed at the White House over the last 8 years?
_________________________________________________

I believe the investment firm Motley Fool used a monkey to choose stocks to see how it would compare against the average stockbroker. The monkey won. Prez Bush is no monkey.