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In a simple experiment, researchers at the University of Chicago sought to find out whether a rat would release a fellow rat from an unpleasantly restrictive cage if it could. The answer was yes. The free rat, occasionally hearing distress calls from its compatriot, learned to open the cage and did so with greater efficiency over time. It would release the other animal even if there wasn’t the payoff of a reunion with it. Astonishingly, if given access to a small hoard of chocolate chips, the free rat would usually save at least one treat for the captive — which is a lot to expect of a rat. The researchers came to the unavoidable conclusion that what they were seeing was empathy — and apparently selfless behavior driven by that mental state. “A New Model of Empathy: The Rat” by David Brown, Washington Post

In a simple experiment, researchers at the University of Chicago sought to find out whether a rat would release a fellow rat from an unpleasantly restrictive cage if it could. The answer was yes.

The free rat, occasionally hearing distress calls from its compatriot, learned to open the cage and did so with greater efficiency over time. It would release the other animal even if there wasn’t the payoff of a reunion with it. Astonishingly, if given access to a small hoard of chocolate chips, the free rat would usually save at least one treat for the captive — which is a lot to expect of a rat.

The researchers came to the unavoidable conclusion that what they were seeing was empathy — and apparently selfless behavior driven by that mental state.

“A New Model of Empathy: The Rat” by David Brown, Washington Post

Posted 2 months ago with 27,379 notes

Reblogged from angryvegan
Originally posted by katreus
  1. cassavaqueen reblogged this from chairolyn and added:
    I remember that contraption. There’d be a backside I’d push forward to squish the mouse until it’s face was as flat as a...
  2. chairolyn reblogged this from ideasandopinions
  3. kitchyami reblogged this from sciencefictionandsluts and added:
    This is so sweet & far more then most people would ever do for another human! And people say we’re the smart ones???
  4. foxotr reblogged this from lululovegood
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  7. i-should-be-sleeping reblogged this from whorepink and added:
    rats man, better than people…
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  25. aoiharinezumi reblogged this from katreus and added:
    wow! honestly sometimes i think animals are more empathetic...selfless towards each
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