Date: June 8, 2017
Source: University of Veterinary
Medicine -- Vienna
Not only dogs but also wolves
react to inequity -- similar to humans or primates. This has been confirmed in
a new study by comparative psychologists of the Messerli Research Institute of
the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. Wolves and dogs refused to
cooperate in an experiment when only the partner got a treat or they themselves
received a lower quality reward. Since this behaviour is equally strong in
wolves and dogs, this sensitivity to inequity is not likely to be an effect of
domestication, as has been assumed so far. It is rather a behaviour inherited
from a common ancestor. The results were published in Current Biology.
Recognising inequity is an
important social skill in humans. This is particularly important when we
cooperate with others. Different species of primates show this sensitivity to
inequity, too. It has hardly been investigated if other species also realise
inequity and react to it. Several studies with dogs were at least indicative of
some form of inequity aversion, for example when the dogs themselves did not get
food, but their partners did for the same action. So far, this skill in dogs
has been attributed to their adaption to humans -- domestication.
Their closest relatives, wolves,
however, exhibit the same inequity aversion. This has been confirmed in a new
study by the Messerli Research Institute and the Wolf Science Center of the
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. When the animals pressed a buzzer
after the trainer had asked them to do so, and received nothing or a lower
quality reward compared to their partners for the same action, they refused to
participate in the experiment earlier. The behaviour was similar in equally
raised wolves and dogs that had, therefore, the same life experience. This
indicates a skill inherited from a common ancestor. Thus, domestication is not
the only reason why dogs react to inequity.
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