Capuchin Monkeys and Fairness: Inequity Experiment Findings

Capuchin monkeys react strongly to unequal rewards, demonstrating a sense of fairness in their social interactions.

### The Fairness Study with Capuchin Monkeys
The study, conducted with capuchin monkeys, aimed to explore the concept of **fairness and inequity**. When both monkeys received cucumber, they were willing to perform the task repeatedly, but giving one monkey grapes created a sense of **inequity**. The experiment was later replicated with other animals, and the videotaped reactions of the monkeys highlighted their **strong response to the unequal distribution of food**.

### A Unique Take on the Wall Street Protest
The speaker uses a rock and cucumber as symbols, with the rock representing a **test against the wall**. The repeated exchange of the rock and cucumber illustrates a **cycle of giving and receiving**. This metaphorical representation is used to depict the dynamics of the **Wall Street protest**.

### The Fairness Study: Capuchin Monkeys and Inequity
* 🐒 The fairness study, originally conducted with **capuchin monkeys**, has gained fame and inspired similar experiments with **dogs, birds, and chimpanzees** over the past decade.
* 📊 In the initial experiment, two capuchin monkeys were placed side by side in a test chamber and tasked with a simple job, receiving **cucumber as a reward**.
* 🍇 When both monkeys received cucumber, they willingly repeated the task **25 times**, demonstrating **satisfaction with the reward**.
* ⚖ However, when one monkey received **grapes**—a far more desirable treat—the inequity became apparent, as the monkey receiving **cucumber** exhibited clear signs of **dissatisfaction**.
* 🎥 A recent videotaped experiment with new monkeys confirmed this reaction, showcasing the **disparity in food preferences** mirroring **supermarket prices**.
* 🤨 The monkey receiving cucumber initially accepted the reward but grew frustrated upon witnessing the other monkey receiving grapes, leading to **visible agitation and a "protest" behavior**.
* 📉 This behavior illustrates a social awareness of fairness among capuchin monkeys, akin to a "**Wall Street protest**," highlighting their **sensitivity to inequity in rewards**.

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Two Monkeys Were Paid Unequally: Excerpt from Frans de Waal's TED Talk

Two Monkeys Were Paid Unequally: Excerpt from Frans de Waal's TED Talk