AN ARMY EXPERIMENT DONE IN THE 1950'S

LIPS

Active member
AN ARMY EXPERIMENT DONE IN THE 1950'S


Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage,
hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it.
Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb
towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray
all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while,
another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the
other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when
another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys
will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage
and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana
and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all
of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and
attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will
be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace
it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is
attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment
with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey
with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.

Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is
attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no
idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why
they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining
monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless,
no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the
banana.

Why not?

Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been
done around here.

And that, my friends, is how Army policy begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Actually I'm familiar with this research.
You know what this showed?
The origin of human culture in its most basic form.
 
You know, this explains why I always found bananas up on high shelves when I conducted barracks inspections... :D
 
Woah dude......I actually found that quite interesting. I'd try it.....but I don't have any monkeys, and I'd feel bad for them if they started beating each other up.

I should tweak this experiment.....only with humans, a twenty dollar bill, and a hopperload of paintballs:shock:
 
Why stop with paintballs? Move on to pepperballs if they seem really determined :D . If that doenst work then use stun guns. :twisted:
 
It's not mean. It's entertainment for those of use who aren't getting hit with paintballs or pepperballs. Now if you want real entertainment. Then you want "the inalienable right to an early coronary sitting at your desk while plotting to stab your boss in the back." (Hawkeye on MASH)
 
AmericanSweetheart said:
I am a girl!
sigmund freud is turned in his grave after that experiment was done. very interesting though.

Freud was a behaviorist based on sex drives he wouldnt have cared it didnt invlove sex.

You're right! :roll:
 
that kinda is true with high schoolers....
as a freshman sophmores and upperclassmen make fun of you, then when you're a sophmore you do the same thing that they did to you that made you feel like crap to the new fishies...
 
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