Chimpanzee vs. Human child learning (1/2)

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

Tags:

• chimpanzee
• chimp
• great
• ape
• human
• being
• child
• children
• teach
• teaching
• learn
• learning
• evolution
• early
• childhood
• development
• monkey
• primate
• simian
• critical
• thinking
• thought
• reason
• reasoning
• science
• brain
• neurology
• neuroscience
• documentary
• versus
• vs
• logic
• memory
• test
• genius
• amazing
• animals
• comparison
• difference
• experiment

[Nefersefet]

@SmokiestPanda1 "** 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."

Yeah, so you know how the annotations said "Please read the description before commenting"? I'm thinking this was why... :\

[InHerHonor]

This just shows how susceptible children are to parents and adult teachings. They followed the rules exactly because they most likely thought those were the rules set or expected. The chimps broke the instructions because they don't necessarily see humans as authority figures.They aren't sheep. A rebellious child would have similar results as the chimps, in my opinion. A big part of intelligence is thinking abstractly, breaking rules and trying things differently.

[WAKEUPCALL4FREEDOM]

@dummychaos WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOX?? There's a stick left, but no human or box!!! lmao....that was funny dummy =)

[WAKEUPCALL4FREEDOM]

@ActiveStorage Why did they do it the way they were INSTRUCTED, instead of ANY WAY THEY can? We r WIRED with power of reasoning 4 SURVIVAL...how did humans make it 4...hmm lets c...200,000 yrs or so wasn't it? CHILDREN have a gift n them & it's very strong n the early stages...BUT it's hindered n a 'model' of ed., by 'incentives' n ed...kids r TAKEN EARLY 4 this 'standardization' process. Thats when they need 2 learn from LIFE, and AFTER natural SKILLS r set, ONLY then can u b TRULY educated.

[WAKEUPCALL4FREEDOM]

@ActiveStorage So WHY didn't they USE THEIR OWN BRAIN and get it the EASIER WAY THEY CAN??

[GidgitDijit]

The kids are taught early on that doing things like they're told is good and they'll get something better if they do it correctly. Also how many of you would have though at 41-59 months not to follow instructions? For 1, I know that even if I was rebellious at that age I wouldn't have thought about it.

[lafftar2]

@InHerHonor Lol i was about to write something similar to yours, thanks for saving my lazy ass the time (y)

[destroyer90z]

i like how they use a twig

[H8tinVidz]

apes did it for the treat they didn't know they had to follow the steps once they see where the treat is. The kids were just following instructions....

[SonOfNye]

@ActiveStorage So it does. I apologize for upsetting you so.

[ActiveStorage]

@SonOfNye those kids are TOLD to get the sticker/treat out ANY WAY THEY CAN.

read the fucking description to this video