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Starry Messenger

(32,380 posts)
24. Science usually says otherwise.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 12:15 PM
Jul 2012

We evolved as a species because of our shortcomings as primates-we had to form working bands to survive. Here's a study you might like:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013121519.htm



ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2011) — Recent studies have shown that chimpanzees possess many of the cognitive prerequisites necessary for humanlike collaboration. Cognitive abilities, however, might not be all that differs between chimpanzees and humans when it comes to cooperation. Researchers from the MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the MPI for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen have now discovered that when all else is equal, human children prefer to work together in solving a problem, rather than solve it on their own. Chimpanzees, on the other hand, show no such preference according to a study of 3-year-old German kindergarteners and semi-free ranging chimpanzees, in which the children and chimps could choose between a collaborative and a non-collaboration problem-solving approach.

<snip>

The research team presented 3-year-old German children and chimpanzees living in a Congo Republic sanctuary with a task that they could perform on their own or with a partner. Specifically, they could either pull two ends of a rope themselves in order to get a food reward or they could pull one end while a companion pulled the other. The task was carefully controlled to ensure there were no obvious incentives for the children or chimpanzees to choose one strategy over the other. "In such a highly controlled situation, children showed a preference to cooperate; chimpanzees did not," Haun points out.

The children cooperated more than 78 percent of the time compared to about 58 percent for the chimpanzees. These statistics show that the children actively chose to work together, while chimps appeared to choose between their two options randomly. "Our findings suggest that behavioral differences between humans and other species might be rooted in apparently small motivational differences," says Haun.



It is rare to find a human out of work who wishes to stay that way. Unless he's a Prince or some other scion.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I didn't know there was a Socialist Progressives group on DU. Betsy Ross Jul 2012 #1
This group is pretty lively. limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #2
It is. We have several subscribers too! Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #3
We have over a 100 subscribers I think. We are probably one of the most popular groups here. white_wolf Jul 2012 #5
Oooh, I have the Gungeon trashed, so I can't check, but I'll bet you might be right! Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #6
I just checked on our subscriber numbers........ socialist_n_TN Jul 2012 #9
Hey, good to see you! Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #10
Yes, it seems to be. :^) GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #4
Thank you! gopiscrap Jul 2012 #7
you are welcome..! limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #8
Very interesting zzaapp Jul 2012 #11
"Why Socialism?" Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #12
very heavy stuff, thanks can I ask a couple more questions please? zzaapp Jul 2012 #13
The social goals would be determined by working people Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #14
Thanks Starry, zzaapp Jul 2012 #16
"So our elected officials would set the social agenda, right?" Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #18
In the Halliburton scenario, would everyone be paid the same wage zzaapp Jul 2012 #20
Not necessarily, no. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #22
I must be laboring under a misconception, zzaapp Jul 2012 #23
Yes, that is incorrect. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #25
Thanks zzaapp Jul 2012 #26
Under Socialism, you get to keep your stuff. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #27
LOL...I wouldn't say corporation... more of a small business man. zzaapp Jul 2012 #28
Marx was talking about property for heavy industries. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #30
Most Marxist or communist organizations......... socialist_n_TN Aug 2012 #36
Thanks SNT zzaapp Aug 2012 #37
This actually touches on a larger debate in socialist circles that I won't get too much into white_wolf Aug 2012 #38
WW, thank you for your informative post, zzaapp Aug 2012 #39
Everyone's favorite example. PETRUS Aug 2012 #40
Thanks so much Petrus, going there now. zzaapp Aug 2012 #41
Well you probably wouldn't have a company organized like a capitalist corporation. white_wolf Aug 2012 #42
I know that this all is very speculative... zzaapp Aug 2012 #43
Sure it is. Democracy itself is cumbersome at times. Dictatorships are much more efficent. white_wolf Aug 2012 #44
I've read some Noam Chomsky.... zzaapp Aug 2012 #45
I'm one of the ones that think things should be a bit more centralized. Starry Messenger Aug 2012 #46
I second the call for common sense. limpyhobbler Aug 2012 #48
+1000 Starry Messenger Aug 2012 #49
To Limpy, Starry, Petrus, SNT and white wolf zzaapp Aug 2012 #50
Regarding individualism... white_wolf Aug 2012 #51
I've run into that here. zzaapp Aug 2012 #52
This is an excellent point ww. limpyhobbler Aug 2012 #53
Two Quotes Come to Mind Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2012 #56
hmm. that's interesting limpyhobbler Oct 2012 #57
From the Individualist to the Communist variants of anarchism ... Fantastic Anarchist Oct 2012 #58
Some point-people can be designated and authorized to make decisions, limpyhobbler Aug 2012 #47
Before I answer this, remember....... socialist_n_TN Aug 2012 #54
Damn, I forgot to answer your basic question........ socialist_n_TN Aug 2012 #55
Equal satisfaction of needs tama Nov 2012 #59
Mr. or Ms. zzaapp is no longer with us it seems. Been PPR'd. limpyhobbler Nov 2012 #60
One more question, this is very interesting, thanks for putting up with me. zzaapp Jul 2012 #17
Can't work because of disability? Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #19
I'm not sure, I think that there are many people who are content to let zzaapp Jul 2012 #21
Science usually says otherwise. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #24
Starry, I hope you can take a compliment. zzaapp Jul 2012 #29
Thank you zzaapp. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #31
Learn something new everyday, zzaapp Jul 2012 #15
Sarcasm? limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #32
I've never had the pleasure of hearing Mr. West speak. zzaapp Jul 2012 #33
That's star power I guess. limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #34
LH.....you're right on. zzaapp Aug 2012 #35
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