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Ape Genius
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Classroom Activity
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Activity Summary
Students use a
viewing guide while watching a program about the science of ape intelligence
and, after watching, discuss answers to questions related to similarities and
differences between intelligence in apes and in humans.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
discuss different ape and human behaviors and how they are related to intelligence. describe
experiments that scientists use to assess ape
intelligence. compare
and contrast intelligence in apes and humans.
- copy of "Ape Genius?" student handout
(PDF or
HTML)
- copy of "Studying Apes and Humans" student handout
(PDF or
HTML)
- pencil or pen
Background
One of the ongoing discussions in behavioral research is
about whether the non-human great apes (chimps, bonobos, orangutans, and
gorillas) are as intelligent as human beings.
Intelligence refers to the ability to learn, reason, plan, think abstractly,
comprehend ideas, and solve problems. It involves the ability to understand and
profit from experience and to apply that knowledge to cope with, interact with,
and manipulate the outside world.
A number of experiments and field research projects have
been conducted to assess ape intelligence. These studies look at key skills and
behaviors that are associated with intelligence in humans. Key factors include:
mechanical aptitude (Do apes make and use tools?
Can apes manipulate items in their environment for a purpose?) imitation (Do apes learn by copying?) cooperation (Will apes cooperate to maximize
self-interest?) social emotions (Can apes understand responsibility
and intent? Do they exhibit impulse control? Can they empathize?) math and communication skills (Do apes demonstrate
an understanding of symbols and numbers? Can they communicate ideas either
verbally or nonverbally? Do they engage in an exchange of ideas and
information?) comprehension (Can apes comprehend abstract ideas?
Are they able to apply previous knowledge to new situations?)
Organize students into teams. Assign each team to
track experiments and field observations in one of the following categories:
A: Mechanical Aptitude
B: Imitation
C: Cooperation
D: Social Emotions
E: Math/Symbol Skills
F: Communication Distribute a copy of the student handouts to each team before viewing. Show the program and have students
individually take notes on the topic their team has been assigned. After watching the program, have students meet in their teams to
discuss their notes. Ask teams to come to consensus on the observations made in
each experiment and the conclusions drawn based on those observations. Use the following questions
to have a class discussion about what researchers inferred about the
experimental results and observations in regard to what the similarities and
differences are between apes and humans:
What
examples indicate that apes can manipulate items in their environment for a
purpose? (Some examples included chimps making spears and apes finding ways
to get food that would otherwise have been inaccessible.) How
is imitation similar and different in apes and in humans? (Both apes and
humans will imitate processes they see others of their own kind doing. Humans
will copy other humans verbatim even if it includes unnecessary actions, while
apes will not.) How
is cooperation similar and different in apes and in humans? (In general,
apes do not cooperate well—with the exception of the
bonobos—because they tend to let emotions such as rivalry and lack of
impulse control impede cooperation. Humans cooperate more extensively.) How
is communication similar and different in apes and in humans? (Like humans,
apes can communicate their wants or respond to direct commands or questions.
Unlike humans, apes seem to lack an "intent to communicate," that
is, there is no direct sharing of such things as thoughts, questions, and
ideas.) What
evidence supports the concept that chimps exhibit signs of intelligence similar
to that of humans? (Apes exhibit the ability to imitate, to determine
intent, to use symbols, to display positive social emotions, to cooperate, and
to problem-solve.) What
are some abilities that humans have that set them apart from apes? (Humans
are better able to control their emotions, they have a more powerful ability to infer what others are thinking, and they are
invested in teaching and learning, which allows the continued transfer of
knowledge to future generations.)
To conclude, ask students
to consider the conclusions drawn by the researchers. Which experiments or
field observations and conclusions did students think were most valid? Why?
Which did students think were least valid? Why? (Students may be more
confident in experiments that were done many times or with many subjects, or
field observations that were done over a long period of time or by a number
different research groups. They may be less confident about an experiment done
with one individual or with a researcher who may appear to have a research bias
with his or her subjects.) As an extension, have students generate questions they have about ape
intelligence. Group together students who have related questions. Have teams
research and answer their own questions and present their findings to the
class.
The following chart lists some of the observations made and conclusions
drawn in the experiments shown in the program.
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Team
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Experiment/Field Observation
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Research Question(s)
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Subject
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Observations
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Conclusions
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A
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Mechanical Aptitude
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chimpanzees
in Fongoli, Senegal
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Is ape making tool?
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chimps
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chimps broke off branch,
sharpened with teeth
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apes are demonstrating
mechanical aptitude
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peanut
placed in clear tube
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Can ape get peanut?
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chimps
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ape did nothing for 10
minutes then suddenly used water as a tool
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apes are demonstrating
mechanical aptitude
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B
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Imitation
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grape
in slot machine
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Can apes from the same
troop learn from another ape? From watching an ape from a rival group?
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chimps
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apes learned easily from
same and rival troops
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apes can learn by
observation
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treat
in opaque puzzle box, then in see-through box
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Will ape and human copy
actions to get treat?
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chimps/humans
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chimp and humans copied
well on first box; on see-through box, chimps realized first step was
unnecessary; humans did not
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kids may imitate adults
because they believe adults are performing the actions for a good reason
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C
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Cooperation
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food
hidden under heavy stone
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Can apes cooperate with
apes, or with humans, to get food?
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chimps
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chimps did not cooperate
with each other but eventually did with humans
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maybe chimps knew humans
wouldn't compete for food
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food
is placed on tray with rope attached to pull it in
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Can apes cooperate to get
food?
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chimps
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chimp went to get help
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cooperation is the
exception; teamwork doesn't come naturally to chimps
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food
placed in central box
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Will apes cooperate and
split food?
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bonobos
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bonobos cooperated
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more congenial temperaments
make bonobos more inclined to cooperate
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D
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Social Emotions
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treats
dispensed on table; rope can be pulled to end experiment
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Will ape choose to end
experiment?
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chimps
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chimp ended experiment when
ape stole food but not when human moved food away
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chimps can gauge who is
responsible for something done; can determine intentions
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young
ape dies
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Will apes help others
despite big risk?
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bonobos
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chimps mounted defense of
dead bonobo
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bonobos will help another
at risk to themselves
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candy
is placed in two dishes
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Which dish will ape choose?
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chimps
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chimp always chose dish
with more candy
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chimps did not exhibit
impulse control
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candy
placed in two dishes
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Will children wait to get
more candy?
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humans
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some children were patient;
others were not
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children with impulse
control exhibited higher SAT scores
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E
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Math/Symbol Skills
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numerals
displayed on screen
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Could chimp count?
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chimps
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chimp performed several
tasks with the numbers
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learned numbers very
differently from humans
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symbols
are placed in two dishes
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Which dish will ape choose?
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chimps
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chimps pointed to smaller
numeral to get bigger prize
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symbols can help distance
ape from impulses
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bonobos
follows verbal instructions
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Can apes communicate?
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bonobos
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bonobo performed a number
of requested tasks
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shows ability to
communicate but does not use language like human
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F
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Communication
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treat
under a cup
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Will child or chimp know
where treat is if pointed to?
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humans/bonobos
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child could find treat;
chimp could not
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maybe natural selection
allowed humans to use cooperative tools in ways other species do not
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child
and parent watching puppet show
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Will child understand what
pointing means?
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humans
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children understood that
pointing meant to pay attention to another object
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mother and babies pay full
attention to each other with shared goal and commitment
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ball
moved from one bag to another
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Will child be able to infer
when someone else will or will not know the ball has been moved?
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chimps/humans
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three-year-old did not know
what others knew; four-year-olds did
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humans could know what
someone else thinking
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experimenter
shows he wants to steal food
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Will chimp take into
account what the researcher knows?
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chimps
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chimp stole food from place
chimp thought experimenter could not see
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chimps exhibit some ability
to determine what others know
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Web Sites
NOVA—Ape Genius
www.pbs.org/nova/apegenius
Features articles, interviews, interactive activities, and
resources to accompany the program.
Chimpanzee Central—The Jane Goodall
Institute's Chimpanzee Resource
www.janegoodall.org/chimp_central/default.asp
Includes
information about chimpanzees' habitat, physical characteristics, social
organization, and communication.
Living Links
www.emory.edu/living_links
Provides
information about current research on primates, an audio and video library,
academic publications, and more.
Primate Info Net: About the Primates
pin.primate.wisc.edu/aboutp/
Includes
an extensive series of fact sheets about the different primate species, which
cover morphology, ecology, behavior, and conservation along with range maps,
images, and a glossary of terms. Also includes resources on evolution, myths
and legends, diseases, and taxonomy.
Think Tank
nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ThinkTank/default.cfm
Examines the question "What
is thinking?" as it relates to the great apes. Includes detailed articles
about the science behind the exhibit as well as a photo gallery.
Books
The Great Apes: Our Next of Kin
by Michelle A. Gilders. Greystone Books, 2000.
Presents
information on the different great apes' habitats, members, behavior, and
mating habits, along with anecdotes of the animals' depiction in
literature, myths about members of the species, and tales of famous animals.
The Great Apes: Our Face in Nature's Mirror
by Michael Leach. Sterling Publishing, 1998.
Provides
an introduction to the great apes that includes comparisons of human and ape
behavioral and cultural adaptations.
Reaching into Thought: The Minds of the Great Apes
by Anne E. Russon, Kim A. Bard, and
Sue Taylor Parker, editors. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Investigates
the qualities that set the intelligence of chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and
orangutans apart from that of other non-human primates and humans.
The "Ape Genius?" activity aligns with the following National
Science Education Standards (see
books.nap.edu/html/nses).
Grades 9-12
Life Science
• Biological evolution
• The behavior of organisms
History and
Nature of Science
• Nature
of scientific knowledge
Classroom Activity Author
Margy Kuntz has
written and edited educational materials for more than 20 years. She has
authored numerous educational supplements, basal text materials, and trade
books on science, math, and computers.
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