Chimpanzees Choose more Rationally than Humans

Tell us something we already don’t know … Chimps choose more rationally than humans. In other words, Monkeys do not make irrational choices to punish someone they perceive as unfair. Its not a matter of getting even, its a matter of self interest and self preservation. End result when it comes to choice, monkeys are rational. So how does this rational decision making play into stories that have been commented on this site?

The researchers concluded chimpanzees do not show a willingness to make fair offers and reject unfair ones. In this way, they protect their self interest and are unwilling to pay a cost to punish someone they perceive as unfair.

And sometimes Monkeys choose even more rationally than certain humans.

LEIPZIG, Germany, Oct. 8 (UPI) — German researchers have demonstrated chimpanzees make choices that protect their self-interest more consistently than do humans.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig studied the chimp’s choices by using an economic game with two players. In the game, a human or chimpanzee who receives something of value can offer to share it with another.

If the proposed share is rejected, neither player gets anything