What separates a human being from a primate? This is a question that has been debated for many years, and I believe that it is one that will likely never be resolved. While acknowledging that humans are technically primates, in this paper I will strictly refer to any non-human primate as a primate. One of the main arguments surrounding the difference in humans and primates is how, if at all, the cultures of the two are related. Meaning, how do primate-learning styles compare to human learning styles? Is it possible for primates to demonstrate a type of behavior in which they accumulate modifications in either an action or an object to make them more efficient, an idea known as cumulative cultural evolution? While very minimal research has actually
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Who was it that taught and guided you as you learned your way? Perhaps it was your mother or father, or another significant person in your life that invested the most time helping you. This same process of learning occurs among adult primates and their infants. Chimp mothers, for example, use several different methods to help teach their child how to properly crack nuts. Boesch¬¬ (1999) performed a study on Taı¨ chimpanzees, finding that mothers influenced their children in three ways. Mother chimps reportedly leave hammers near anvils when they go out collecting after they begin to notice growing interest in their chimps. This is a form of simulation, and these are the first chances the infants have using the hammer. Some mothers facilitated nut cracking by providing their young with suitable hammers and nuts. These infants, after being guided by their mothers, began to collect and try to crack nuts on their own. However, it is common for a chimp to encounter difficulties when they begin the transition. When these complications would arise, it was noticed that certain mothers would demonstrate to their young how to solve the problems that developed through active teaching (Boesch 1999). By simulating, facilitating, and actively teaching their young, mother chimps demonstrate behaviors that are extremely similar to human mothers and their children. Young children are surrounded by individuals that guide them and help them to acclimate to
Who was it that taught and guided you as you learned your way? Perhaps it was your mother or father, or another significant person in your life that invested the most time helping you. This same process of learning occurs among adult primates and their infants. Chimp mothers, for example, use several different methods to help teach their child how to properly crack nuts. Boesch¬¬ (1999) performed a study on Taı¨ chimpanzees, finding that mothers influenced their children in three ways. Mother chimps reportedly leave hammers near anvils when they go out collecting after they begin to notice growing interest in their chimps. This is a form of simulation, and these are the first chances the infants have using the hammer. Some mothers facilitated nut cracking by providing their young with suitable hammers and nuts. These infants, after being guided by their mothers, began to collect and try to crack nuts on their own. However, it is common for a chimp to encounter difficulties when they begin the transition. When these complications would arise, it was noticed that certain mothers would demonstrate to their young how to solve the problems that developed through active teaching (Boesch 1999). By simulating, facilitating, and actively teaching their young, mother chimps demonstrate behaviors that are extremely similar to human mothers and their children. Young children are surrounded by individuals that guide them and help them to acclimate to