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Brief Report
Are apes inequity averse? New data on the token-exchange paradigm
Article first published online: 19 NOV 2008
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20639
© 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bräuer, J., Call, J. and Tomasello, M. (2009), Are apes inequity averse? New data on the token-exchange paradigm. Am. J. Primatol., 71: 175–181. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20639
Publication History
- Issue published online: 19 DEC 2008
- Article first published online: 19 NOV 2008
- Manuscript Accepted: 20 OCT 2008
- Manuscript Revised: 16 OCT 2008
- Manuscript Received: 19 MAY 2008
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- inequity aversion;
- social cognition;
- prosocial behavior;
- other regarding preferences;
- fairness
Abstract
Recent studies have produced mixed evidence about inequity aversion in nonhuman primates. Brosnan et al. [Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 272:253–258, 2005] found inequity aversion in chimpanzees and argued that effort is crucial, if subjects are to evaluate how they are rewarded in comparison to a competitor for an identical performance. In this study we investigated inequity aversion with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, using the method of Brosnan et al. [Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 272:253–258, 2005] after introducing some methodological improvements. Subjects always received a less-preferred food in exchange for a token, whereas the competitor received either the same type of food for their token (equity) or a more favored food for it (inequity). Apes did not refuse more of the less-preferred food when a competitor had received the more favored food. Thus, with an improved methodology we failed to reproduce the findings of Brosnan et al. [Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 272:253–258, 2005] that apes show inequity aversion. Am. J. Primatol. 71:175–181, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.