After reading about
this science experiment conducted by Harry Harlow and his associates at the
Primate Laboratory of the University of Wisconsin, the results may just make
us question EVERYTHING ...
THE STORY OF THE 8 MONKEYS
A group of scientists put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room was a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tried to climb the ladder, all the monkeys were sprayed with ice water, which made them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempted to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempted to climb the ladder again. One of the original monkeys was then removed, and a new monkey was put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wondered why none of the other monkeys were doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately began to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fell upon him and beat him silly. He had no idea why.
However, he no longer attempted to climb the ladder. A second original monkey was removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempted to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammered the crap out of him. This included the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he was not on the receiving end this time, participated in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he had no idea why he was attacking the new monkey. One by one, all the original monkeys were replaced. Eight new monkeys were now in the room. None of them had ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempted to climb the ladder. All of them enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tried, without having any idea why.
Sometimes, this feels like life. People just accept the status quo as truth because others are seemingly doing the same, without knowing why they do that. They are not quite sure whether what they have been doing all along can be improved or changed. They may even say it’s the policy or a matter of public opinion. At times, it feels it’s just the standard practices that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Nothing else. Then if someone ask questions that are too far out of the comfort zone, that someone is ridiculed and scorned. All they did was ask a simple question that the others did not wish to think about.
Just like the new monkey, who has no idea why. "Peace is not won by those who fiercely guard their differences, but by those who with open minds and hearts seek out connections." - Katherine Paterson.
THE STORY OF THE 8 MONKEYS
A group of scientists put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room was a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tried to climb the ladder, all the monkeys were sprayed with ice water, which made them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempted to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempted to climb the ladder again. One of the original monkeys was then removed, and a new monkey was put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wondered why none of the other monkeys were doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately began to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fell upon him and beat him silly. He had no idea why.
However, he no longer attempted to climb the ladder. A second original monkey was removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempted to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammered the crap out of him. This included the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he was not on the receiving end this time, participated in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he had no idea why he was attacking the new monkey. One by one, all the original monkeys were replaced. Eight new monkeys were now in the room. None of them had ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempted to climb the ladder. All of them enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tried, without having any idea why.
Sometimes, this feels like life. People just accept the status quo as truth because others are seemingly doing the same, without knowing why they do that. They are not quite sure whether what they have been doing all along can be improved or changed. They may even say it’s the policy or a matter of public opinion. At times, it feels it’s just the standard practices that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Nothing else. Then if someone ask questions that are too far out of the comfort zone, that someone is ridiculed and scorned. All they did was ask a simple question that the others did not wish to think about.
Just like the new monkey, who has no idea why. "Peace is not won by those who fiercely guard their differences, but by those who with open minds and hearts seek out connections." - Katherine Paterson.
Nothing but the truth
ReplyDeleteYea, very inspiring
ReplyDelete