Frans de Waal: Moral behavior in animals

Empathy, cooperation, fairness and reciprocity -- caring about the well-being of others seems like a very human trait. But Frans de Waal shares some surprising videos of behavioral tests, on primates and other mammals, that show how many of these moral traits all of us share.
Frans de Waal studies primate social behavior -- how they fight and reconcile, share and cooperate.

[@chadr2604]

To me the fact that even animals know right from wrong suggests that something else determines what is ethical and not us. A few years ago I was in bed hearing a meowing I finally went outside to investigate and there was a mountain lion with its legs duct taped together. I was scared I was going to get clawed it let me free it then it ran off a few feet, came back purring and rubbed on my leg like a cat then took off. I reckon the mountain lion could tell from body language that I was trying to help it.

[@oliver1784]

this is just the thing that gives me hope for this world.

[@deathbybears]

What would happen if the scientist changed the feeding pattern between the two right in front of them.

[@nicidell]

Did the monkey ever get a grape? Hopefully they gave him a few afterwards.

[@SicketMog]

No they flogged it and then shoved the grapes up its rectum as they let it bleed out iirc.

[@reinhardponewisch188]

Did the occupants of Wall Street get a fair share of the money there ?

[@sleepykeeper]

Yup it is good practice in this field to reward a specimen before they go back to there group in order to prevent retaliation from higher ranking animals.

[@orionstar9048]

The monkey anticipated the grape as well with increased hand off, holding the value of it's task; the monkey(left) increased it's speed performing task as testing "rock specimen" provided for adequacy, deemed correct: 2nd time.

[@PeaceProfit]

It is the Shepard who leads the lambs to slaughter, while the wolf desires the flock roam healthy, united and free...

[@xicorimpedance9020]

I’m sure the wolf would be much happier having his food penned off so he doesn’t have to track it

[@Minh4x]

@@xicorimpedance9020 yeah but the wolf takes the slow or old or sick, humans will ignore those one and only go for the healthy ones.

[@justobserving4862]

Yes I agree with you

[@UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana]

Some of the smaller canines do pose a threat to whole herds because of their food demands due to their numbers. Although they are absolutely adorable into the lengths they go to to care for their pack members, don't even get aggressive with other packs of the same species and sometimes let other species into their packs (in the wild). So either terrifying or adorable depending on who you are.

[@UnknownDino]

@@Minh4x healthy babies are slow too. The wolf doesn't care about age, they care about energy preservation so they go for the one's easier to kill. I wouldn't be surprised if they avoided the sick too if they could choose easily.

[@roboboro]

again what was the conclusion?

[@gabrielletriano6970]

i wish there was. mostly observation

[@chloehopps809]

That monkeys have empathy and a sense of fairness.

[@djb7116]

Than I would say Sarah Bosnin's experiment is more interesting, if it does as you claim reveal unselfish behavior, unlike these results. Till then I'll keep my view that the overwhelming inclination or instinct in nature is towards survival and selfish demands and not of a conscience.

[@UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana]

No one said that survival and selfish demands are not dominant. These tests are to show morality exists as well.

[@UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana]

Besides the distinction works terribly with some animals. E.g. hunter gather humans are clearly aware and sad about their cruel method of killing animals but do it anyway. Wild dogs and dholes use extremely cruel methods of killing their prey and are clearly aware of their sufferings as they can predict their prey's emotions. They also put their lives in danger for even the weakest of their pack, are not hostile to other packs, and even let distantly related animals into their packs in the wild (obviously only when they are useful and/or eat other food for practical reasons).

[@Rod1712]

The absence of a neocortex does not seem to prevent an organism from experiencing affective states. There is converging evidence that nonhuman animals possess the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of states of consciousness, along with the ability to display intentional behaviors. Consequently, the weight of evidence indicates that humans are not alone in possessing the neurological basis for consciousness. Non-human animals, including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, also possess these neurological substrates." Philip Low, neuroscientist.

[@stub4488]

Very interesting! I'm currently trying to learn more ways to ween a female dog off people food. I think I over did it. That rotisserie chicken is pretty easy to share. We're going back to the basics again. I think she bit me because I was sharing enough, even though she has a full bowl of dog food.

[@newagain9964]

Wow You have a terrible dog. Which means you’re a terrible owner, or perhaps terrible person.

[@cb7928]

Sounds like your dog might be good aggressive, it’s very easy to fix, just look up a couple YT videos on food guarding or food aggressiveness

[@UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana]

How old is she? Young dogs, even ones at full size bite everything because they need to calibrate their jaws, just and humans grasp everything when young with our hands. They can be trained not to bite, but their natural instinct will always be to bite until they are older.

[@yohannessantoso3150]

Funny things start from here 14:25 😆

[@prathmeshsingh9699]

Best example of Don't tell me show me

[@Zetchzie]

As an Autistic Adult I can say the yawn works on me. Don't know where this "Autistic ppl don't have empathy" came from unless it's just kids

[@mahendrasmith7589]

I think it is more depends on the “flavor” of autism. For example, the one characteristic of Aspergers is lack of understanding others perspective, which is a prerequisite for empathy. I have meet some Aspergers suffers who would insult me right to my face before and I thought there had a low IQ, but now I know it is a form of autism. In some ways it is nice society lets them be productive, but they really shouldn’t have a customer facing job.

[@du42bz]

@@mahendrasmith7589 I was diagnosed early with aspergers and despite lacking a bit empathy, i understand that doing something like that is utter nonsense

[@mahendrasmith7589]

@@du42bz Good for you. Nice to know Aspergers can have some small contribution to society besides being a bagger at Krogers.

[@bosconjoroge8985]

If there's one thing i find so interesting Is psychology,,,😃😃

[@Revion91]

This isn't really psychology. This is ethology and primatology.

[@bosconjoroge8985]

Ooh! Thanks for that,,,😀

[@2l84t]

Morals are learned . Don't think so? Ask your dog if he's a good boy.

[@boblordylordyhowie]

We think ourselves superior and highly intelligent, yet we are just simple animals.

[@vinayaktripathi8883]

I have not studied anthropology or genetics. I am just a normal person. But I take issue with the fact that the most important branch of knowledge of anthropology is not as clear as it should be. Even though it is a science, there are conflicting views among experts. While de Waal at 5:40 mentions reciprocity among chimps, Leonard Shlain in his book Sex, Time and Power and power states that delayed gratification developed in humans only after periods of high maternal mortality in Africa. What should I believe? I want to say more on the subject even though I believe no one will read it. I am afraid that the science of anthropology may become the battleground for left and right wingers in a deeply divided climate. That would be horrendous because it is a new science and at the moment still deeply dependent on subjectivity and intuition

[@Revion91]

this is so far off the mark I don't even know where to begin. This isn't even anthropology. This is ethology and primatology. There isn't even any mention of genetics anywhere in this video.

[@sagittarius_a_starr]

just do this research on human in prisons... as a former inmate, it's basically the same.

[@PeaceProfit]

The natural order exists in spontaneous harmony without the Delusion of FEAR... Every creature has the free will to act and react within the balance of creation... in doing so they follow the evolutionary process that maintains that Balance: Respect, Regard, Relevance and Resolution. It is MAN who constructs order based upon Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fear. Thus he simply needs to embrace the natural order of creation. L.O.V.E. as all suscessful species do. This is the wisdom he has misconstrued.

[@justobserving4862]

I really want to understand but I can’t can you explain further please. I’m being genuine no sarcasm

[@chuckharding6405]

Fear is actually more fundamental than your "love". The majority of organisms possess self-preservation.

[@pavel9652]

Sounds like spiritual mumbo jumbo. All surviving species, currently living on planet, are successful.

[@drsyedabukhari3769]

No 2 lucky 5 lucky 10 luck 🤞 20 luckily

[@laforcepaint8913]

Such a great video...well except for all his sort of jokes 😅😂

[@lucymadelengregg4482]

I dont think people are fair nore empathic, most people are full of themselves.

[@biertjewithmenno886]

No most people are fair and empathic, what probably happend is that you associate with people that have a negative mindset, or you look at the media (which mostly only features negative events) too much without realizing that most things that happen in our world are positive.

[@lucymadelengregg4482]

@@biertjewithmenno886 Thats what you believe cause you had alot of luck in your life. Im not saying there arent people who care or who are good. But thats the minorrity and most people arent.

[@drsyedabukhari3769]

2025 luck 🤞 successful believers day

[@shivadizayin]

How ridiculous . Dude should be concerned with the morality of humans . Do these people actually get paid to conduct these pointless. , inane experiments

[@thespcrewroy8716]

nah

[@thespcrewroy8716]

this study proves humans are not above animals and created specially. it proves that we are not above animals in the slightest

[@Rod1712]

More ridiculous that the government has to invest in you so that you continue polluting the world.