Chimpanzee vs. Human child learning (1/2)

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Uploaded by on Nov 16, 2008

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE COMMENTING --

Link to Part 2: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nHuagL7x5Wc

A brief, interesting clip from National Geographic's "Ape Genius" documentary, comparing how a chimpanzee learns when compared with human children.

An experiment conducted at St Andrews University revealed that while children tried to tackle a puzzle without trying to analyze it, chimps of the same age used logic and managed to solve it

This test shows that the human child, even when given tasks that obviously have no meaning, follows the instructions given to them by the perceived authority figure, whereas the chimpanzees are more pragmatic, and exclude the extraneous steps.

I feel that this is a good example of why it is important to raise children to believe as many true things and disregard as many false things as possible. Children are our shared future, and teaching them to think critically and rationally, so they can grow up to be mindful, effective adults that use reason to help build a better world is vitally important.

Article from the Sunday Times:
"Young chimps make chumps of children"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article489717.ece

NOTE: This is a dramatic reenactment of an experiment for a TV documentary. The actual experiment criteria:
** The children used ranged from 41-59 months.
** The chimps used ranged from 2-6 y.o. Chimps mature at 13-14 for females, 15-16 for males.
** The box always contains a sticker. When the child gets the sticker, they trade that in for a food reward.
** The child is instructed to get the reward any way they can, then the experimenter leaves the room. The test is filmed. When the child is successful, they say "I have got it!" and the experimenter returns to the room and gives them their reward.

More Information:
http://www.hellofelix.com/childhood-social-learning/overimitation/when-are-ch...
http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/pdf_attachments/Horner&Whiten_AnCog2006...

Category:

Science & Technology

License:

Standard YouTube License

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Uploader Comments ( tehinfidel )

  • this study is flawed. The children were probably told to copy the motions, but you can't tell that to a chimp.

  • Yeah, why bother reading the experiment parameters in the video description where it says "PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE COMMENTING", when you can just engage in bald assertions and wild speculation.

  • I know. Not think

  • Assert != know.

Top Comments

  • To be more accurate, the children should be starved before administered the test. This way, the factor of them wanting to play is replaced by the need for a gummy bear.

  • they didnt make it clear wether or not they had told the kids that their clear, objective was to get the gummy bear, and not just "repeat exactly as i do"

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All Comments (2,100)

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  • if you'd do this here, in asia, children would just throw the stick, flip the box, take it out

  • How do you know that you know?

  • Like she said at 3:10 The children view her as an experienced, trustworthy and reliable person. So they don't find the need to use their logic. They feel it right and safe to do exactly as told.

    Whereas, the chimps don't completely trust her, nor care about learning or copying what she's doing. They just want the food. So they used their logic there.

  • Teaching each other is one of the LARGEST contributors to our status as the dominant species on this planet. I also HIGHLY disagree with the subjective opinion that the apes were "outsmarting" the children. The apes were driven by a simple motivation to acquire food while the children saw this as an exercise of learning, they took this as a lesson rather than just a hunt for a sweet morsel. The children were approaching this at a much deeper level than simply trying to abate hunger.

  • LMAO I love people like you

  • but he's still right?

  • Wait wait wait, hang on a second, Texas has a university?

  • ** The child is instructed to get the reward any way they can, then the experimenter leaves the room. The test is filmed. When the child is successful, they say "I have got it!" and the experimenter returns to the room and gives them their reward.

    Descriptions bro..

  • Why? The chimps weren't starved, either. If anything, both needed to be starved.

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