Why your next mentor should be a woman. Because Monkeys pay more attention to female

tmarket · Mar 18, 2010

Selective attention to philopatric models causes directed social learning in wild vervet monkeys
Erica van de Waal1,2,*, Nathalie Renevey1,2, Camille Monique Favre1,2 and Redouan Bshary1,2

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Author Affiliations
1Institute of Biology, University of NeuchÃ¢tel, Emile-Argand 11, 2009 NeuchÃ¢tel, Switzerland
2Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, UNISA, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, South Africa
*Author for correspondence (erica.vandewaal@unine.ch).
Abstract

Human behaviour is often based on social learning, a mechanism that has been documented also in a variety of other vertebrates. However, social learning as a means of problem-solving may be optimal only under specific conditions, and both theoretical work and laboratory experiments highlight the importance of a potential model's identity. Here we present the results from a social learning experiment on six wild vervet monkey groups, where models were either a dominant female or a dominant male. We presented âartificial fruitâ boxes that had doors on opposite, differently coloured ends for access to food. One option was blocked during the demonstration phase, creating consistent demonstrations of one possible solution. Following demonstrations we found a significantly higher participation rate and same-door manipulation in groups with female models compared to groups with male models. These differences appeared to be owing to selective attention of bystanders to female model behaviour rather than owing to female tolerance. Our results demonstrate the favoured role of dominant females as a source for âdirectedâ social learning in a species with female philopatry. Our findings imply that migration does not necessarily lead to an exchange of socially acquired information within populations, potentially causing highly localized traditions.
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http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/03/13/rspb.2009.2260.short?rss=1

jem · Mar 18, 2010

consider madison avenues uses pretty women to sell stuff why do they bother with those kids of studies.

Everybody likes to look at pretty women. When they can teach us something its a twofer.

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Why your next mentor should be a woman. Because Monkeys pay more attention to female

tmarket

jem