test
Search publications, data, projects and authors

Article

French

ID: <

10.4000/primatologie.2362

>

·

DOI: <

10.4000/primatologie.2362

>

Where these data come from
Do capucins discriminate against the intentions of others in the context of interspecific interactions?

Abstract

understanding the intention of others’ actions is a fundamental part of human social cognition. Sensitivity to intentions is a necessary and crucial development in children. We know that chimpanzees, a species close to the phyloGM of humans, are capable of discriminating against the intentions of others. Has this capacity emerged in an older ancestor and is it shared with other non-human primates, including the monkeys of the New World? In this study we tested whether brown capucins (Sapajus Apella) and monk capucins (Cebus capucinus) are capable of perceiving the intentions of a human investigator. More specifically, we studied the behaviour naturally emitted by capucins under three experimental conditions during which the investigator’s intention varies. The subject is faced with the experimenter giving him a food reward through a hole in a plexiglas plate. In a first condition, known as ‘unwilling’, the investigator may give the reward, but does not do so voluntarily, i.e. it is unintentional. In a second condition, called ‘unusable’, the investigator is not able to give the reward through the hole, which is closed by a small plexiglas plate, i.e. he is unable to do so. Finally, in a final ‘distracted’ condition, the investigator is able to give the reward through the hole, but instead of taking the reward in his own hands, he manipulates a clog, i.e. it is disconnected. The results are being analysed. We seek to observe the sensitivity of monk capucins and brown capucins to others’ intentions and whether they are capable of discriminating against a poorly intentioned experiment versus a well-intentioned but incapacitated investigator. We assume that when the investigator acts poorly intensely (condition unwilling), capucins will leave the test device more quickly than when the investigator is unable to give the reward (unwetted condition) or it is distracted by a close-out condition. We are also working on a greater release of behaviour of quench or aggression towards an experiment that is ill-intentioned than well intentional but incapable. Finally, we assume that our ability to discriminate against the intentions of others is not unique to humans and great apes, but would be shared with other species of non-human primates more distant phylogenically, such as capucines.We thank the Strasbourg University Primatology Centre for funding this project, the entire technical team of the Centre for Primatology for the Design of Experimental Devices, the animaliers for daily care for the monkeys and the three trainees who participated in the acquisition of the data.

Your Feedback

Please give us your feedback and help us make GoTriple better.
Fill in our satisfaction questionnaire and tell us what you like about GoTriple!