“Fairness to Me”
Many months ago, I wrote a blog on “Fairness”, noting that there are several different ways to define this term. My blog did not address how basic this concept really is.
In her article “Monkeys Fuss Over Inequality”, in LiveScience.com (November 13, 2007), Jeanna Bryner discusses a study revealing that Capuchin monkeys, who are very much like us humans, will throw “. . . fits when their companions get better treats.” (Id.)
In a study conducted by psychologist Sarah Brosnan at Georgia State University, Megan Van Wolkensten and Frans B.M. de Waal (both of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia), these researchers trained 13 Capuchin monkeys to play a game: “each of a pair of monkeys would hand a small granite rock to a human in exchange for a reward, either a cucumber slice or a grape.” (Id.) The grape was the more desirable treat.
The researchers found that when both monkeys in the pair received cucumber slices, there was no problem. But when one of them received a grape while the other received a cucumber slice, the latter monkey let her displeasure be known. She would either drop or throw the cucumber slice on the ground or simply refuse to accept it and turn away.
As Capuchin monkeys are New World monkeys and more distantly related to humans than chimpanzees, these results show that the innate sense of fairness developed at a “. . . different evolutionary spot on the tree of life” (Id.) than was previously thought:
“The latest findings suggest that a sense of fairness is deeply ingrained in human evolutionary history rather than the idea that it’s a more cultural response, and thus, learned from other humans.” (Id.).
Further, the researchers found that the Capuchin monkeys were concerned only with fairness to themselves, and not to others: “While humans regard fairness as equal treatment of themselves and others, the Capuchin monkeys only care about number one.” (Id.) Or, in modern terms, they follow the “what’s in it for me” (WIIFM) motto.
In many mediations, I have heard a party exclaim that she wants what is “fair”. Oftentimes, the party has defined “fairness” in the same terms as the Capuchin monkeys: “what is fair to me?” Up until now, I assumed that this sense of fairness was a cultural trait and of recent evolutionary vintage. Now, I know better: putting No. 1 first in terms of fairness dates back thousand of years.
So, the next time a party exclaims that she wants what is “fair”, I will smile to myself and put her plea into the proper perspective by acknowledging it has nothing to do with her individually, but with her ancestors. Her plea is not an individualistic selfish demand, but is primordial in nature, dating back to the Capuchin monkeys. In short, her selfishness is not cultural but genetic.
. . . Just something to think about.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
“If general fairness had been their concern, advantaged monkeys should have shared an occassional grape with the others or refused grapes altogehter, something they never did…An egocentric sense of fairness is a fancy description of envy. It is the pain felt at the sight of those better off than we are. This is a far cry from the larger sense of fairness, the one that makes us also worry about those worse off than we are. If monkeys lack this latter sense, what about the apes?… Sue took care of a female, Panbanisha, while the rest of her bonobo colony was being tended by other staff. Panbanisha was getting different food, such as raisins and extra milk. As Sue brought these goodies to her, the other bonobos saw what was happening and called out. They obviously wanted the same stuff. Noticting this, Panbanisha seemed troubled, even though the situation was in her favor. She asked for juice, but when it arrived, instead of accepting it, she gestured to the others, waving an arm in her friends direction and vocalizing at them. They responded with their own calls and then sat down next to Panbanisha’s cage, waiting to get juice, too. Sue said she had the distinct impression that Panbanisha wanted her to bring the others what she herself was getting.
This is not enough to conclude that a sense of fariness exists in other animals, but what fascinates me is the connection with resentment. All one needs of the larger sense of fairnes to develop is anticipation of the resentment of others.” From Our Inner Ape, by Frans De Waal, p208-209, 2005.
Two things to think about-apes are closer to us than monkeys, and when is fairness really just envy?
December 12th, 2008 at 9:04 am
[...] This week’s blog returns to a familiar theme: Fairness. Why? I am a dog lover (see below) and so can’t resist reading any article involving [...]
January 8th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I would like to call your attention to an article I wrote about the “two dog fairness” experiment. I believe you’ll find a definitive answer here to what the experiment actually reveals, I also believe it’s the most sublime explanation for the evolutionary antecedents for the high social traits such as altruism, bonding and cooperation. This is the link and I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks for your consideration, Kevin Behan.
http://www.naturaldogtraining.com/articles/do-dogs-have-a-sense-of-fairness/