Field research on chimpanzees has demonstrated extensive evidence of cooperation, such as alliances, boundary patrols, and hunting parties. Surprisingly, captive studies often find that chimpanzees fail to cooperate. In humans, failure to cooperate can arise from the collective action problem (CAP), also known as “the tragedy of the commons”. The CAP occurs when individuals of a group can receive a collective benefit regardless of whether they participate in the collective activity that gives rise to the benefit. When too many individuals “free-ride,” the level of cooperation needed to obtain the benefit may not be met and the benefit becomes unavailable to all group members. Studies of cooperation in humans have found various mechanisms for overcoming free-riding, including punishment and private incentives. Because wild chimpanzees exhibit cooperative behaviors in spite of the possibilities for free-riding, they probably have evolved mechanisms to overcome the CAP. This project is an investigation of the CAP in captive chimpanzees and the mechanisms they use to overcome the CAP. Cooperation is experimentally studied in 7 social groups of chimpanzees at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center in Bastrop, Texas. This experiment is designed to determine (1) whether the chimpanzees can overcome the CAP, and (2) the mechanisms they use. This study of the CAP in chimpanzees will provide insights into the evolution of cooperation and negotiation in humans.
Research assistants will help collect behavioral data from videos collected during the behavioral experiments. Students who demonstrate proficinecy with the video data and can commit to 2 or more semesters of assistance have the potential to participate in the aspects of the project that involve directly working with the chimpanzees.
I seek research assistants for this project who have:
* taken a course in primate behavior or animal behavior
* a strong work ethic
* the ability to work well with others
