Effect of urban environment on visual curiosity behavior in rhesus monkeys

Abstract

Two groups of rhesus monkeys, one captured in bazaar areas of Indian cities and the other in jungle areas, were compared for visual curiosity responses to several stimulus displays of varying complexity. In comparison to the jungle monkeys, urban monkeys showed greater responsiveness to the stimulus displays of higher complexity value. The results were interpreted as suggesting that monkeys from urban areas, as a result of their more varied visual and motor experiences, become psychologically more complex than those from jungle areas. © 1968, Psychonomic Journals. All rights reserved.