The Monkeys ExperimentHow Culture Affects Behaviour

Takeda IndonesiaLearn & Lunch

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It was supposed to be an experiment involving 5 monkeys, a cage, a banana, step ladders and, an ice-cold water hose.

Original owner of image: Nirel Cooper

Source: http://blog.ladders-online.com/2012/06/11/stepladders-monkeys/

This article is taken from source: http://blog.ladders-online.com/2012/06/11/stepladders-monkeys/

Where is it: Brazil

Story behind it:

Many of you may have heard the myth of the monkey/ladder/water-spray experiment, which put like that sounds rather odd. What not so many people know is that said experiment is not a myth. In 1967, it was conducted by G R Stephenson, under the title ‘Cultural acquisition of a specific learned response among rhesus monkeys’ .

The experiment ran as follows. Stephenson collected 5 monkeys and locked them in a cage. From the ceiling of the cage, he hung a bunch of bananas, which could only be accessed by a step ladder leading to them, which the monkeys could climb. There was, however, a catch. Every time a monkey started to climb the step ladder, that monkey was sprayed with ice-cold water. Not only that, but the other 4 monkeys were sprayed with cold water as well. This was repeated every time a monkey attempted to climb the ladder until the monkeys became conditioned: no monkey must climb the step ladder.

Stephenson then replaced one of the monkeys with a newcomer. Just one. Fairly quickly, the newcomer spotted the bananas and went for the step ladder. But the other monkeys – knowing the drill by now – quickly rushed to stop the newcomer, screaming and snarling at him and even scratching him. Without any intervention by the scientists – with no water even being sprayed on him – the new monkey immediately became conditioned as well.

Stephenson then went on to replace the other monkeys in turn. Remarkably, every time a new monkey was added and went for the step ladder, all the monkeys that had been conditioned rushed to stop him, screaming, snarling and scratching. Even those who had never been sprayed before joined those who had in beating the new monkey.

Eventually all of the monkeys had been replaced. None of them had ever been sprayed with cold water, yet none of them dared to climb the ladder to get the banana. When the final new monkey was added, they rushed to uphold the rules as before.The new monkey would be justified in questioning this behaviour. And what could the other monkeys say? They had never been sprayed. Yet if they were to answer, they would probably say something like this:

“That’s just the way we do things here. It’s just how life is.”

• How long have you been joining PT. Takeda Indonesia/ PT. Apex Pharma Indonesia?........ years

• What did you learn from “The Monkey Experiment” story?

• As new/old “monkey” how do you position yourself if you were in that situation & condition?

• As new/old “monkey” what would you do to change the situation and condition? What kind of “culture” that you desire to be in your working place?

Agenda

• 11.30 – 11.40 (10”) Introduction• 11.40 – 12.00 (20”) The Monkeys

Experiment Stories and Play

• 12.00 – 12.10 (10”) Questionnaires filled-in• 12.10 – 12.30 (20”) Sharing• 12.30 – 12.45 (15”) Key Learnings & Closing

remarks• 12.45 – 13.00 (15”) Lunch