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Neurobiology and Behaviour: Behaviour

Primate societies and the costs and benefits of group living

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3

Overview

Behaviour that spread through a group of monkeys by imitation, tool-using behaviour that young chimpanzees learn by watching and tradition in an animal group.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Evaluation

Give four advantages of living in a social group.

Evaluation

Give four disadvantages of living in a social group.

Key term

Give three features that make primate societies complex.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Give three features that make primate societies complex.

    Model answer

    Individuals live together for years and recognise one another, they form long-lasting bonds and alliances maintained by grooming, and the young remain dependent for a long time while they learn.

  2. 2

    Why is a long period of dependence an advantage to a primate?

    Model answer

    It gives the young animal years in which to learn from the adults around it, so far more complex behaviour can be acquired before it has to survive alone.

  3. 3

    What is imitation?

    Model answer

    Imitation is the copying of an action that has been seen performed by another individual.

  4. 4

    Give an example of a behaviour that spread through a group of monkeys by imitation.

    Model answer

    In a troop of Japanese macaques a young female began washing sand from sweet potatoes in water, and other members copied her until it became normal for the group.

  5. 5

    Give an example of a tool-using behaviour that young chimpanzees learn by watching.

    Model answer

    Young chimpanzees learn to strip a twig and use it to fish termites from a mound by watching their mothers, and they take several years to become skilled at it.

  6. 6

    Why is imitation an efficient way of learning?

    Model answer

    A useful behaviour can spread through a whole group without every individual having to discover it, so the time, energy and risk of trial and error are avoided.

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