Primate Culture
1) There is some evidence that shows promising examples of chimpanzee culture in the article. We define culture as something that is passed down and learned. This article shows that Chimpanzees from other regions have different ways of doing things. Primatologists William McGraw and Caroline Tutin witness a “hand clasp” demonstrated in one group of these primates. 170KM away, a group of Chimpanzees do not have a hand clasp “social custom” as defined in the article. Human culture is sometimes driven by the need to “fit in” which was similarly shown among chimps that learned two different ways to earn treats. One group was shown that by placing a token in the blue garbage can would yield a reward while the others were shown to put a token in a white garbage can. Although they would receive a reward regardless, they showed a tendency to stick with what was taught to them to begin with, within their own community. In addition, researchers described other behaviors to be taught socially such as nut cracking and using leaves as sponges and napkins. This social learning is a great find in the search to prove that culture can be a way to describe their behavior.
2) Some argue against the notion of chimpanzees having a culture. University of Chicago anthropologist Russell Tuttle claims there is not enough evidence to support these primates is intelligent enough. Until their symbolism is demonstrated it is just “learned behavior.” Others state there is not enough evidence that their behavior is resulted from social communication. However they don’t have experimental evidence to back up their claim either. It is hard to place strange chimps together because of aggression issues. If they were able to place a chimpanzee with a hot wired set of traditions, to another group of strange chimpanzees, perhaps maybe then they would be able to know whether or not their “behavior” would change in a different setting.
3) In the book Monkeys, Apes, and Humans:...