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Really though?? This is what research funds are being spent on these days???

Even monkeys dislike jerks, researchers report, based on a study of humans behaving badly in front of our primate cousins. And the results may point to the origins of both cooperation and interest in reputation among our primitive ancestors, suggests the Nature Communications study led by psychologist James Anderson of the United Kingdom’s University of Stirling.

In the study, researchers asked two human actors to perform a wordless skit in front of seven Capuchin monkeys, a species known for being cooperative. The actors performed a pantomime display of cooperation, or non-cooperation, often used to test how children develop a sense of fairness. Half the time, one actor begged the other for help in opening a jar to remove a toy and the other person helped them. The other half of the time, the second actor ignored the pleas for help getting the toy. The actors switched roles to perform for different monkeys.

After the skit, each actor offered a food treat (a “small primate pellet”) to the monkeys. The result? According to the study, “monkeys were less likely to accept food from someone who previously refused a request for help from another person.” In other words, even hungry monkeys don’t like people who act like jerks.

“If Capuchins engage in image scoring (i.e judging) of humans, as shown here, it seems likely that they also do so in the context of their normal group life,” the study concludes. A 2009 study in the journal Science had already shown that Capuchins prefer humans who imitate their actions, but the new results suggest an even deeper level of judgment at work among the monkeys.

That may mean that disdain for unhelpful folks may be a habit that goes way back in time, to the days when our ancestors were still climbing around in trees, the researchers conclude.

Wow, this is great to know!!!! (Sarcasm)

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