Ape Genius

This quarter I kind of dropped the ball. Kind of. So I was aiming to take 3 classes at a time the whole time I'm in school so that I can get it all done A.S.A.P. buuuut, this quarter I'm only taking 2. I was signed up for three but realized that 6 hours straight of drawing would not really be my cup of tea (2 drawing classes in one day). So, I dropped one, and realized that the drawing class I still have is not going to work out because the guy's an asshole. So I'm a beggar and a chooser. Wah. It's ok though, next quarter I'll get back into three and it shouldn't affect my schedule too bad. The other bad part though is that one of the 2 classes I'm taking this quarter is only from  May- June, so I won't have a full load in any way. Why is this bad? Because I shouldn't get used to having such a free schedule. My bad. I'll just have to bury myself in more work for Lace&Mason shop to keep me stressed out. :)


So right now, all I have is Anthropology, something one of my best friend's chose to major in!


This first week, we've focused on culture and had to watch a video called "Ape Genius" about how apes relate to humans. I thought it was pretty interesting actually, and pretty crazy! If you have time, you should really check this video out! I also will have my week's assignment posted below. (please excuse the weird numbering!)




Watch Ape Genius on PBS. See more from NOVA.

Address the following questions as in-depth as you can. (Use the number of the question to organize your commentary.)

1. What field observations were made in Senegal? What is the significance of these behaviors?

The apes in Senegal were having “pool parties”. They would go into the water for play not for necessity, and the expressions on their faces gave explanation to their actions - they were having fun! This is significant because they were believed to be afraid of water previously. The apes were also creating spears and hunting for bush babies with them. They would follow a set of tasks to accomplish this; break, strip, sharpen, and stab. This is the first knowledge of another species other than human to make and use a deadly weapon.

1. Describe 2 experiments that were designed to discover whether, and to what extent, apes can cooperate.

In an experiment to test how apes learn, researchers created a sort of slot machine where the apes had to turn and push a lever in order to achieve a grape. The first ape was shown how by a human, and he quickly caught on. Other apes were then exposed to the first ape who continued to use the machine, the other apes soon pushed the first aside to try it themselves, successfully. After watching from across the way, a completely different type of ape was able to master the machine as well just from watching and imitating the other’s motions.

In another experiment, apes were shown how to open a puzzle box with a stick by tapping, pushing, and opening a door by a researcher to see how they learn. The ape achieved the candy hidden in the box. When tested on human children, they were able to complete the task as well, however, when the box was changed from opaque to see-through, the apes were able to distinguish that the series of tapping and pushing had no effect on their possession of the candy, and were able to get it by just opening the small door. When the children were presented with the same see-through box, they were unable to distinguish the unneeded tasks and continued to work the box the way they had been taught.

1. What are the positive and negative social emotions of apes?

Though the emotions of apes enable them to share happiness, express denial and grief, they are unable to move past things like greed which prevents them from being able to cooperate with each other and have a shared commitment toward a shared goal.

1. Define and explain the characteristics of human culture (Chapter 8) exemplified by the apes.

Apes exemplify the socially learn cultural behavior by learning from their elders such things as means of feeding themselves by using twigs as tools to extract termites as well as cleaning sweet potatoes before eating them. Whether in captivity or in the wild, apes “‘possess  a near-human intelligence generally, including the use of sounds in representational ways, a rich awareness of the aims and objectives of others, the ability to engage in tactical deception, and the ability to use symbols in communication with humans and each other.’” 

5. What is the conclusion of the researchers that explain why apes fall far short of human cultural achievements, even though they exhibit behaviors that suggest some degree of culture themselves?

The researchers concluded that though they have human-like emotions and actions, apes do not have the full mental package. They lack certain communications such as pointing which requires a mental skill of directing attention to something you are looking at or experiencing. This attention direction between two humans and something is know as a “triangle,” this triangle turbocharges teamwork, which is something apes do not have the capacity for. Another element that disables apes from achieving the cultural achievements of humans is that the passion to cheer on is missing. A large “emotional driver” is encouragement within the human species. The last reason is that apes have no want to teach, as humans we love to teach and to be taught. Apes however, learn by imitation of their elders, if at all. Each generation of apes could learn what their elders have been using to complete tasks by imitation, or the techniques could be lost. Humans however, make it an important cultural event to be taught specifically, not just by seeing other people do things.

Until next time!