What is a monkeys favourite toy? - Horizon: Is your Brain Male or Female - BBC Two

Summary

In an experiment at Woburn Safari Park, male and female Barbary macaques were presented with gender-stereotyped toys to observe their preferences. The male monkeys predominantly chose trucks and cars, engaging with them for longer periods, while the females showed little interest in these vehicles. Conversely, the female monkeys gravitated towards dolls, displaying more interest and interaction with them. The results mirrored the original experiment's findings, sparking debate on innate toy preferences versus learned behavior in primates.

Takeaways

• 🐒 The experiment took place at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire to test toy preferences in Barbary macaques.
• 🧩 The monkeys were presented with a mix of 'boy' toys (trucks and cars) and 'girl' toys (dolls).
• 👨‍🔬 Tom Robson, a keeper, assisted in the experiment by providing the monkeys with toys.
• 🚘 Male monkeys showed a preference for trucks, interacting with them by moving the wheels and even climbing on them.
• 🚗 Another male monkey was observed spinning the wheels of a car, indicating interest in that type of toy.
• 👧 Female monkeys, on the other hand, showed interest in dolls, picking them up and investigating them.
• 🌳 A male monkey was seen carrying a truck up a tree, suggesting a desire to possess and protect the toy.
• 🔄 The original experiment found that male monkeys played with 'male' toys twice as long as 'female' toys.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The results of the experiment were clear-cut, with males barely touching dolls and females showing little interest in trucks.
• 🔬 The monkey toy preference experiment was controversial, but it has been replicated with similar findings in other locations.

Q & A

What is the location of the experiment with the monkeys?

The experiment took place at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire.

Which type of monkeys were involved in the experiment?

The monkeys involved in the experiment were Barbary macaques.

What kind of toys were presented to the monkeys in the experiment?

The monkeys were presented with a mix of typical boy type toys like trucks and cars, and girl type toys like dolls.

Who is Tom Robson in the context of the experiment?

Tom Robson is one of the keepers at Woburn Safari Park who provided the dolls for the experiment.

What was observed in the original experiment regarding the monkeys' toy preferences?

In the original experiment, the psychologist observed which toys the monkeys preferred and for how long they played with them.

What did the male monkeys show a preference for during the experiment?

The male monkeys showed a preference for the trucks, as evidenced by them picking them up and interacting with them.

How did the female monkeys behave towards the toys during the experiment?

The female monkeys showed interest in the dolls and were observed holding, sniffing, and investigating them.

What was the behavior of the male monkeys towards the trucks?

The male monkeys not only picked up the trucks but also climbed on them and defended them, showing a strong interest.

What was the result of the original experiment regarding the time spent with toys?

In the original experiment, the male monkeys played with the male type toys for twice as long as they did with the female type toys.

What was the outcome of the monkey toy preference experiment in terms of gender-specific interests?

The outcome of the experiment was that the male monkeys barely touched the dolls, while the female monkeys showed hardly any interest in the trucks.

Has the monkey toy preference experiment been conducted elsewhere with similar results?

Yes, the monkey toy preference experiment has been repeated twice elsewhere with similar results, indicating a consistent pattern in the findings.