PLOS ONE · 2 authors, 3 centres
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The study used experimental paradigms to compare how great apes and young children explore uncertain options versus known rewards. The central finding was that children were more likely to explore uncertain options before any demonstration, while great apes typically only explored after seeing that uncertain alternatives could offer better rewards.
Participants chose between certain rewards and uncertain options with hidden outcomes. An intervention phase then revealed that uncertain alternatives could yield better rewards, allowing for generalization via analogical reasoning. Key results showed that children were more likely to choose the uncertain opaque cup in the initial phase, whereas great apes initially avoided it. After the intervention, both groups became more explorative. The authors argue that species differences primarily stem from differing motivational dispositions to explore the unknown, with children showing higher intrinsic curiosity. Limitations include the use of familiar, human-made stimuli for apes and the fact that only adult apes were tested. The implications suggest fundamental differences in how uncertainty is approached across development and species.
