Chapter 13 - Acquisition of Innovative Cultural Behaviors in Nonhuman Primates: A Case Study of Stone Handling, a Socially Transmitted Behavior in Japanese Macaques

Abstract

The question of whether or not animals have culture, and if they do have, how does animal culture differs from that of humans has long been a topic of interest and debate. The pioneering studies of Japanese macaques have brought the biologists closer to answering these questions and have played a significant part in bringing to light the importance of social learning in nonhuman primates. To date, all newly acquired cultural behaviors reported in Japanese macaques have in common the fact that they are subsistence oriented and thus provide direct benefits to the user in daily feeding activities. Monkeys who wash sweet potatoes, dip them in salt, or separate sand from wheat, are benefiting from their efforts. It is possible that the observations of direct benefits acquired by individuals from practice of these behaviors actually encourage their wide diffusion. While not every socially learned behavior is or has to be adaptive, the propensity to learn and adopt new behaviors surely is adaptive in most circumstances. Perhaps someday because of the experience gained from stone handling, a new behavior of adaptive value to the troop will arise. However, in its present state stone handling, rather than being the means to an end, appears to be rewarding in itself.