Monkey See, Monkey Do
This particular experiment was carried out with monkeys, but I'm pretty sure it can be extended to apply to humans too.
- A group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in a cage and in the middle, a ladder with bananas on the top.
- Every time a monkey went up the ladder, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water.
- After a while, every time a monkey went up the ladder, the others beat up the one on the ladder. No monkey dared to go up the ladder after some time, regardless of the temptation.
- Scientists then decided to substitute one of the monkeys. The first thing this new monkey did was to go up the ladder. Immediately the other monkeys beat him up. After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb the ladder even though it never knew why.
- A second monkey was substituted and the same occurred. The first monkey participated on the beating for the second monkey. A third monkey was changed and the same was repeated (beating). The fourth was substituted and the beating was repeated. Finally, the fifth monkey was replaced.
- What was left was a group of 5 monkeys that even though never received a cold shower, continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder.
Even though the cold showers, the punishment, were stopped a long time back, the behavior of the monkeys went on unquestioningly, unblinkingly. "Thats how things are done around here!" they would have protested, had they been asked what the purpose of all those beatings was. Monkey see, monkey do. Monkey jump off cliff if his monkey friend jumps off first. Monkey no think.
Sound familiar?
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