Monkeys taught to use money, use it like humans do.

[chris4243]

Some monkeys were taught to use money, and exhibited the same sort of behavior biases that humans do in economics experiments. Like us they are risk-averse and reference-dependent, and prefer to "potentially gain" something to "potentially lose" something even when the actual outcome is the same. The money consisted of aluminum disks with a hole in it, which the monkeys could trade for treats of different kinds.

It seems that during an accidental dispersal of the coins, some of the monkeys demonstrated that they know how to trade money for sex.

Monkey Business - New York Times

The actual study, for those who want it:
http://www.q-group.org/archives_folder/pdf/spring2008/ChenBehavioralBiases.pdf

 

[chris4243]

In related news, a different group is studying the effects of advertising on monkeys.

The first advertising campaign for non-human primates - life - 27 June 2011 - New Scientist
Olwell expects brand A to be the capuchins' favoured product. "Monkeys have been shown in previous studies to really love photographs of alpha males and shots of genitals, and we think this will drive their purchasing habits."

I guess monkeys also know about inappropriate content.

 

[Umaro]

I love studies like this. I don't feel like digging it up, but there's another one where the monkeys were given alcohol, and the researches found that the monkeys had about the same breakdown between those that naturally abstain, use in moderation, and become alcoholics as humans do. Humans always think we're these special little butterflies set apart from nature, but we're all just wild animals with the same faults, weaknesses and drives as everything else. I wish more people would come to understand that.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Did any of the monkeys go into ponzi schemes?

All we need to do is get rid of the current set of monkeys that run the financial markets and replaced them with the real ones and the world will be a better place!

 

[revanneosl]

All we need to do is get rid of the current set of monkeys that run the financial markets and replaced them with the real ones and the world will be a better place!

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the article is implying that if we could get rid of the current set of monkeys and replace them with the real ones, the results would be exactly the same.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the article is implying that if we could get rid of the current set of monkeys and replace them with the real ones, the results would be exactly the same.

Please don't spoil my delusion, I was hoping that the world can be saved.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Please don't spoil my delusion, I was hoping that the world can be saved.

Here's a scarier thought: The world doesn't actually need to be saved. It isn't broken; this is how the system is designed to work.

 

[KerrMetric]

Here's a scarier thought: The world doesn't actually need to be saved. It isn't broken; this is how the system is designed to work.

That is a very interesting comment and probably very close to the truth.

 

[arborvita]

That is a very interesting comment and probably very close to the truth.

QFT

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Here's a scarier thought: The world doesn't actually need to be saved. It isn't broken; this is how the system is designed to work.

Who designed it to work like that?

 

[SithDoughnut]

Who designed it to work like that?

Lots of people over a long period of time, most of whom had the goal of making as much money as possible in the shortest period of time.

 

[Vasallus]

Like humans? Do the monkeys spend more than they have? Do they print money when they run out?

 

[Brak]

This is nothing new. Who do you think runs our banking system?

 

[Saving Hawaii]

It's the animal spirits!

 

[SithDoughnut]

Like humans? Do the monkeys spend more than they have? Do they print money when they run out?

Bet you they would if they could. It would make sense for a monkey to conclude that if they can trade currency for treats, then more currency means more treats.

 

[Wolseley]

we're all just wild animals with the same faults, weaknesses and drives as everything else. I wish more people would come to understand that.

Some of us do. It's called Mankind's Fallen Nature, due to a thing called Original Sin. I realize you reject all of that, but that doesn't nullify the reality of it.

Please don't spoil my delusion, I was hoping that the world can be saved.

This world can't be saved. This world is passing away. All you can do is try to save individuals for salvation out of this world. What happens here is less important than how we prepare ourselves for when we leave here.

Here's a scarier thought: The world doesn't actually need to be saved. It isn't broken; this is how the system is designed to work.

Original Sin again. Scary how often it pops up, isn't it? Oughtta make you think.

Who designed it to work like that?

I wonder.....could it be......Satan???

 

[Supreme]

This is a very interesting subject. Monkeys are pretty intelligent creatures, y'know.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Original Sin again. Scary how often it pops up, isn't it? Oughtta make you think.

Capitalism and the free market are a directly result of original sin?

 

[Wolseley]

Capitalism and the free market are a directly result of original sin?

Well, in one sense of the word, yes....before the Fall, everything was provided to man, by God, for free. After the Fall (Original Sin), God condemned man to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Man formed various economic systems after that. So you could say that capitalism is a result of the Original Sin----but so are Communism, Socialism, monarchies, feudalism, and all other social and economic systems. If it hadn't been for the Fall, none of them would have been needed to begin with.

 

[chrisnu]

Well, in one sense of the word, yes....before the Fall, everything was provided to man, by God, for free. After the Fall (Original Sin), God condemned man to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.

Yahweh sure got really angry over a single mess-up, didn't he?