Is it just me, or did that dolphin just put me in time out
Hi all,
Here is an interesting book review of The Octopus and the Orangutan by Eugene Linden. The book ask these questions, How smart are animals? Are they self aware? Can they psychologically adapt or is everyting pre-programmed? You will be exposed to many animal behaviors including the dolphin and will read Eugene Linden findings. Here is excerpt on a dolphin behavior.
One of the most interesting accounts in the book involves a dolphin researcher. When the dolphin did something wrong, the researcher would step back 15 feet from the tank for a few minutes, giving the dolphin a “time out.” Now this dolphin had a particular dietary stipulation; it did not like fish with the fins still on them. When the dolphin would receive a fish with the fins on, it would spit them out. After a while the researcher would cut the fins off, but once she forgot, and when the dolphin saw this fish (the equivalent to leaving the crust on a sandwhich when you prefer the crust cut off) the dolphin swam way to the other side of the tank and would not respond to the researcher for a few moments. The dolphin co-opted the behavior the researcher used to essentially punish her for doing something wrong, i.e. giving her fish with fins on. The researcher repeated her mistake and every time the dolphin would retreat to the other side, turning the tables of the time-out punishment idea.
To read more on this review, The Octopus and the Orangutan by Eugene Linden
Has anyone out there done any other studies on animal behaviors and would like to share it?
GB,
John
