Decision-Making
“Chimp Minds” is a documentary of Chimpanzees that explores the similarities between chimpanzee and human minds. Unlike other animals that simply act based on instinct, Chimpanzees seem to be conscious of their decisions. For example, the chimpanzees seem to be conscious of their choices of play items. The chimpanzees also take their time before deciding on how to react to a situation. Such a trait mirrors human behaviour and way of thinking. Other animals do not share this level intelligence. For example, when a gazelle spots a lion, it will not spend a lot of time thinking of what to do. It will simply run away.
Problem-Solving
The skill of problem solving requires a relatively intelligent brain that is capable of absorbing and synthesizing many stimuli. Chimpanzees are capable of choosing tools or items that they require to solve a particular problem or achieve a certain goal. Many animals would not think of picking a particular tool to satisfy a need or solve a problem. It is an intelligent way of thinking that is similar to humans’ reasoning process. For example, a chimpanzee can pick a stick and use it to get termites from a termite mound.
Consciousness:
Humans have an ability to recognize themselves because of their consciousness. When an animal like a dog sees its image in a mirror, it would assume that it is another dog and bark at it. Chimpanzees tend to be conscious of themselves just like humans. The chimpanzees depict a relatively high ability to generalize concepts in a manner that is more sophisticated than simple imitation. For example, a young chimpanzee is capable of choosing an item that it finds intriguing among many other items.
Work Cited
Basham, Erika. Chimp Minds. Scientific American Frontiers . YouTube. March 25, 2015. Web. March 24, 2016.
