The Dark side of Science: The Horror of the Ape and The Child Experiment 1932 (Short Documentary)

Summary

The 'Ape and the Child' experiment, conducted in the 1930s, explored the effects of human nurturing on a chimpanzee, Gua, raised alongside the Kellogg family’s son, Donald. The study aimed to test whether a chimpanzee could be humanized through the same care and learning methods as a child. While Gua developed human-like behaviors, such as walking upright and problem-solving, her inability to acquire language highlighted the limitations of nurture. Ethical concerns arose over the experiment's impact on both subjects, especially Donald, whose social and speech development suffered. The study ended abruptly, with tragic outcomes for both Gua and Donald.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 'Ape and the Child' experiment involved raising a chimpanzee, Gua, alongside a human child, Donald, to study nature vs. nurture.
• 😀 Gua, the chimpanzee, was removed from her mother at a young age and raised as a sibling to Donald to observe any behavioral similarities.
• 😀 The experiment focused on understanding whether an animal could develop human-like behaviors through nurturing in a human environment.
• 😀 Gua exhibited human-like behaviors, such as using a spoon, walking upright, and understanding commands, but could not acquire language.
• 😀 The experiment also focused on the physical and psychological development of both Gua and Donald, noting key differences in their development.
• 😀 Gua adapted quickly to human environments, such as sleeping in a cot, but also exhibited behaviors linked to her species, like building nests with bedding.
• 😀 Donald and Gua interacted socially, with Donald showing affection toward Gua, and Gua developing attachments similar to those of human children.
• 😀 While Gua adapted quickly to physical tasks, such as using a spoon, Donald was slower in comparison due to his less developed mobility.
• 😀 The experiment highlighted the differences in language development, with Donald starting to speak while Gua was limited to non-verbal communication.
• 😀 The abrupt end of the experiment raised ethical concerns, especially regarding the impact on Donald’s development and Gua’s removal from the Kellogg family.
• 😀 The experiment’s aftermath was tragic: Gua died young, and Donald, despite achieving success later in life, tragically took his own life in adulthood.

Q & A

What was the primary goal of the Kellogg’s experiment with Gua the chimpanzee and their son, Donald?

The primary goal of the experiment was to study the effects of raising a chimpanzee in a human environment and compare its physical and behavioral development with that of a human child, specifically exploring the influence of nature versus nurture.

Why did Winthrop Kellogg want to raise a chimpanzee alongside his human child?

Winthrop Kellogg was fascinated with the idea of isolating the nurture aspect of development. He believed that by raising a chimpanzee like a human child, he could observe whether the chimpanzee would adopt human-like behaviors and if nurture could override the chimp’s natural instincts.

What were some of the physical differences noted between Gua and Donald?

Gua, being a chimpanzee, had longer arms and a greater physical ability than Donald. She also had most of her teeth, while Donald only had two at the time. Additionally, Gua’s bones were found to be denser than Donald's, as seen from the spoon test on their skulls.

How did the experimenters observe the differences in reaction times between Gua and Donald?

Both Gua and Donald were placed in front of a motion camera, and a revolver was fired behind them to test their reaction times. It was found that Gua reacted more quickly than Donald.

What type of daily schedule did Gua and Donald follow during the experiment?

Their daily schedule included waking up at 7:00 AM, breakfast at 7:30 AM, observations and experiments from 9:00 AM until lunch, followed by a nap, bath, milk break, and more experiments and playtime in the afternoon. Dinner was at 6:00 PM, with bedtime at 6:30 PM.

What was Gua’s behavior like when she was separated from her bed?

When her cot was temporarily removed, Gua cried out in distress. This reaction indicated an emotional attachment to her sleeping arrangements, similar to a human child’s attachment to their bed.

How did Gua’s sleep behavior compare to Donald’s?

Initially, Gua napped more than Donald, especially after meals. As she grew older, her nap schedule became more consistent, while Donald continued to nap for longer periods during the day.

What were some of the cognitive and physical milestones Gua reached ahead of Donald?

Gua achieved milestones such as walking upright and using a spoon for self-feeding much earlier than Donald. She also mastered opening doors and light switches, showing advanced problem-solving skills.

What was the outcome of the language development in Gua compared to Donald?

While Donald developed speech and began vocalizing words, Gua was unable to speak but learned to understand commands and could react to around 95 words. However, Donald began imitating chimpanzee vocalizations and showed signs of speech delay due to lack of socialization.

What ethical concerns arose from the Kellogg experiment with Gua and Donald?

The ethical concerns included the forced separation of Gua from her biological mother, the emotional and physical strain caused by the experiment, especially on Donald, and the questionable methods such as startling the subjects with loud noises or physically testing their skulls. Critics also raised concerns about the long-term developmental impacts on both participants.