Teaching Mortality Awareness to a Gorilla

Overview

• Tulane University's Primate Research Center
  • Scientists taught a gorilla the concept of mortality
  • Notable as a historic first

Key Researchers

• Lana Burrows
• Philip Townsend

Research Methodology

Initial Steps

• Started with basic pattern recognition
  • Example: red block, blue block, green block
• Introduced life cycle patterns
  • Example: Gorilla born, gorilla grow, gorilla die

Mortality Teaching

• Showed photographs of dead and dying gorillas
• Communicated phrases like "you someday" and "no choice"
• Thousands of repetitions needed
• Gorilla became aware of the correlation between photos and himself

Behavioral Observations

• Quigley shared feelings in a confessional
• Began painting pictures regularly
• Reinforced awareness of mortality several hours per day
• Communicated "Quigley, you die. You will die soon."
• Progressed from rudimentary fears to complex emotions
  • Examples: indifference, self-hatred
• Evidence of a panic attack
  • Anguished cries and head banging

Future Research Directions

• Potential to teach gorillas alcoholism or self-harm
• Exploring replication with other species
  • Initial stages with bunny rabbits
  • Phrases: "You will both... Die."

Related Studies

• British scientists teaching a mouse with a human ear grafted to its back awareness of its abnormality

Conclusion

• Revolutionary findings in primatology and animal psychology
• Possibility of expanding to other animals