With a little help from a friend
2007
Chimpanzees and Young Children's Altruism
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Frans B. M. de Waal
Primary Institution: Living Links, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University
Hypothesis
Do chimpanzees and young children help others out of empathy?
Conclusion
Chimpanzees and young children are willing to help others even without immediate rewards.
Supporting Evidence
- Chimpanzees helped a person reach a stick even without a reward.
- Both chimpanzees and children helped despite increased costs.
- Observers helped their partners access food even when it meant no benefit for themselves.
Takeaway
Chimpanzees and kids like to help others, even if they don't get anything in return.
Methodology
The study involved three experiments testing chimpanzees' willingness to help humans and each other under different conditions.
Limitations
The study may not account for all variables influencing altruistic behavior in natural settings.
Participant Demographics
Chimpanzees and young children.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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