Chimps Suggest Altruism is Easier Won When Requested
October 16th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Headline
Many studies have been conducted on the nature of altruism, a concept which science in general and psychology in particular has striven to understand for some time. Recently, in the Primate Research Institute and the Wildlife Research Center at Kyoto university, a study has been performed which has sought to understand a select facet of altruism among chimpanzees. The study focused on a group of both related and non-related chimps, and provided some with tools that others could use to retrieve a reward. While there were few instances of voluntary tool-sharing, submitting a request showed significant rates of eliciting a helpful response. The research may help develop modern knowledge on how and why people share.
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Rolling Hills Estates Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
7 comments so far
Humans and chimps have a lot in common and any study on them will surely lead to understanding the human psychology better. Hence such studies should be encouraged.
Humans and chimps have a lot in common and any study on them will surely lead to understanding the human psychology better. Hence such studies should be encouraged.
This finding is notable… yes,humans do react in a helpful manner when a request is made, and it is not difficult to know why chimps behave in the same manner. They are a lot like humans.
Grabbing something might spark off a fight but it has now been proved that a request might well be able to avoid such a conflict.
I know that there have been times where I have wanted to help and do something for others but did not know how those gestures would be interpreted. You are always wondering if people think that you are doing something out of kindness or if there is some underlying motive for your actions. So I think that having the ability to ask for help is an important thing. It is not anything to be ashamed of and it lets others know that you have a need and that you are willing to accept what they have to offer without having any feelings of guilt.
This should serve as a lesson to all of us… we are supposed to be more intelligent than chimps, but still there is war and conflict in the world. Even in everyday situations, people hesitate to make a request, they want everything, whether by hook or by crook…
Asking for help can be hard because you risk being denied that help. That shouldn’t stop you from doing so. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Interesting study!
I do offer help and don’t wait to be asked. It’s second nature to me to try help when I see someone needs it but I know I’m in the minority. If they take offense, that’s not something I could have foreseen. I don’t beat myself up over it or let it hold me back next time.