Observing Violence: Humans and Monkeys Share a Common Trait
Long‑Tailed Macaques Display a Spectacular Media Response
Heatwave in Delhi Triggers Monkeys on the Roadside
In 2023, an intense heatwave in northern India drew not only humans but also wildlife, including monkeys who sat on a roadside in the capital, New Delhi. The Greater Heat Cinema Report© AFP Arun SANKAR illustrates how the animals were captured in a glamorous scene.
A Shared Fascination with Conflict
- Monkeys and humans both possess a basic desire to belong.
- Researchers discovered that long‑tailed macaques gravitate toward scenes of violence, mirroring human interest in drama.
- Low‑ranking individuals watched more attentively, perhaps for self‑protection, while high‑strung ones averted their gaze.
Study Overview
- Twenty‑eight macaques from a Dutch primate research centre were shown two‑minute videos.
- Videos featured four activities: conflict, grooming, running, and sitting.
- Monkeys were shown nine kinds of videos, including a mix of group members and strangers.
- Researchers measured eye‑directed time and behavioral reactions.
Key Findings
- Conflict content attracted the highest attention; running was next most attractive.
- Grooming and sitting garnered the least interest, showing a clear preference.
- Monkeys focused more on videoclips featuring members of their own group than on videos of strangers.
- Low‑ranking and less aggressive macaques displayed the greatest attention to the clips.
Human–Macaque Parallels
- Scientists highlighted that humans have a long‑standing attraction to violent media.
- Evidence shows that primates may share a similar predilection for conflict and aggression in videos.
Conclusion
The research, published in the journal Animal Cognition titled “Reactions to social videos in long‑tailed macaques,” demonstrates that humans and macaques exhibit strikingly comparable tendencies, especially when it comes to an affinity for conflict.
