What's In It For The Chimp?
It's interesting that chimps are seen as 'lackng in altrusim'. Here' the article
In the experiments, the chimps were given a chance to give themselves a food treat, and to also give the same treat to the other chimp sitting nearby in a clearly-visible cage. Or not.
In fact, the researchers report in the current issue of the journal Nature that the chimps pulled the lever to give a treat to their counterpart only about as often as they pulled that same lever when the cage opposite them was empty. In other words, they could care less about their pals.
Emory University researchers earlier this year reported that chimps do possess a sense of "fairness", rejecting a lousy-tasting cucumber when they see another chimp getting a tasty grape, when both had performed the same task. But chimp fairness only goes so far, says Silk's team. Chimps don't seem to mind when they benefit and somebody else gets stiffed.
The finding suggests that humankind's history of cooperation may be unique to our species, says the team, or at least is part of human behavior that has only developed since people and chimp ancestors diverged more than 5 million years ago.
The corollary of that could be a selfish human is less 'evolved'. :)
Or the experiment is totally culturally observer-biased and not worth spit.
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