Capuchin Monkeys Cooperate with Strangers: Learning the Benefits of Reciprocity with In-Group and Out-Group Members Public
Suchak, Malini Christine (2010)
Published
Abstract
Abstract
Capuchin Monkeys Cooperate with Strangers: Learning the Benefits of
Reciprocity with In-Group and Out-Group Members
By Malini Suchak
Humans are thought to be the only species capable of widespread cooperation with unrelated individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine if learned reciprocity facilitates cooperation in situations where cooperation normally breaks down in nonhuman primates: inequity aversion and among strangers. Twelve brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were tested to determine if they could learn the benefits of reciprocal exchange in a prosocial choice task. Capuchins did not develop contingent reciprocity in this task. Instead, mutualism led to an increase in prosocial behavior during reciprocal situations. Furthermore, capuchins overcame inequity aversion through reciprocity and demonstrated widespread cooperation with unfamiliar monkeys. These results demonstrate that (1) simple cognitive mechanisms can lead to increased cooperation and (2) cooperation outside the social group is not limited to humans.
Capuchin Monkeys Cooperate with Strangers: Learning the Benefits
of Reciprocity with In-Group and Out-Group Members
By
Malini Suchak
B.S., Canisius College, 2007
Advisor: Frans de Waal, Ph.D.
An abstract of a thesis submitted to the Faculty of the James T.
Laney School of Graduate Studies of Emory University in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
in Psychology
2010
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction...1
Methods...11
Results...22
Discussion...33
References...40
Appendix A. Summary of Subjects Tested...47
Appendix B. Training Procedures...48
Appendix C. Order of Test Sessions...51
Appendix D. Ethogram...52
Tables
1. Summary of hypotheses and tests conducted...9
2. A comparison of a Yoked Control session and its corresponding
Alternating Session...18
3. A comparison of Single Actor and Alternation sessions by
individual...26
4. A 2 x 2 contingency table...27
Figures
1. Examples of tokens...13
2. The token exchange procedure...15
3. Percent of prosocial choices by trial block...24
4. Comparison of Single Actor and Alternating sessions...25
5. Affiliative behavior by session...29
6. Comparison of Equal and Unequal Rewards...30
7. Percent of Prosocial Choices by Reward Condition...30
8. Comparison of In-group and Out-group Partners...31
9. Comparison of Single Actor and Yoked Control Sessions...32
10. Partner Absent Tests...33
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