Comparative behavior of primates. VII. Capacity of monkeys to solve patterned string tests.
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1934 |
Authors: |
Harlow, H. F.; Settlage, P. H. |
Publication/Journal: |
Journal of Comparative Psychology |
Keywords: |
baited, complicated patterns, infraprimate mammals., monkeys, old and new world monkeys, strings, various patterns |
Abstract:
31 monkeys, of several species, were required to pull in one of a group of strings arranged before them in various patterns, the correct string being baited with a piece of apple. The authors found that both simple and complicated patterns could be solved by Old and New World monkeys. Marked individual differences appeared. Comparison of the present data with previous work shows that monkeys are far superior on such problems to infraprimate mammals. They solved the problems with about the facility of three-year-old children. Anthropoid apes do not appear to be superior to monkeys in such tests. “There is no demonstrable correlation within the primate order (excluding man) of the level of cortical development with the capacity to solve these tests.”