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Capuchin monkeys, inequity aversion, and the frustration effect.

Peter G Roma1, Alan Silberberg, Angela M Ruggiero

  • 1American University, Washington DC 20016, USA. PeteRoma@gmail.com

Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|March 23, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Capuchin monkeys did not show inequity aversion in a food-sharing experiment. Rejection rates for less preferred food were not influenced by a partner receiving a better reward, suggesting frustration effects may explain behavior.

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Area of Science:

  • Primate behavior
  • Animal cognition
  • Social economics

Background:

  • Previous research suggested capuchin monkeys exhibit inequity aversion, reacting negatively to unequal food distribution.
  • Understanding fairness and reciprocity in non-human primates provides insights into the evolution of social behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether capuchin monkeys display inequity aversion in a controlled experimental setting.
  • To test previous findings on fairness perception in capuchins and explore alternative explanations for observed behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Four female capuchin monkeys were paired, with one (model) receiving a preferred food (grape) while the other (witness) observed.
  • The witness was then offered a less preferred food (cucumber), and rejection rates were recorded.

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  • Control phases involved both monkeys receiving cucumber to assess baseline rejection rates.

    • Main Results:

    • Witness monkeys infrequently rejected cucumber, regardless of whether the model received grape or cucumber.
    • Model monkeys rejected cucumber at higher rates when it was offered to them compared to witnesses.
    • Results did not support previous findings of inequity aversion in capuchins.

    Conclusions:

    • The study failed to replicate findings of inequity aversion in capuchin monkeys.
    • A frustration effect model better explains the observed behavioral patterns, including higher rejection rates by models when offered less preferred food.