100th Monkey (Refer the previous post) experiment was conducted number of times, changing few variables. At one time they found out, monkeys learn new behaviors from learned monkey than learned human being.
The researcher himself started being with monkeys (another gang), made friends with them then exhibited the behavior; washing sweet potatoes and eating. Monkeys refused to follow his example. They might have thought that this joker is wearing funny dress and unlike us this guy does not even have the guts to show his own naked body, then why should we have to imitate him? But when they send a monkey who had already learned to wash and eat; he could influence other monkeys easily.
The lesson is that monkeys like to learn from fellow monkeys since they could identify with them. This is the reason when I was asked to give orientation for the first year students; I refused to undertake that adventure.
The unconscious enmity between student and teacher is well established one. No one likes to be taught, it is due to social pressure, students are joining the schools and colleges. “May you teach other people’s children” was the worst curse spelled during the medieval period. Of course the reason was the primary duty of a parent was educating his children, and not paying the tuition fee to other human being for teaching their wards.
In my opinion the orientation given by teachers to students is a waste of time (not entirely, but to a great extent). Students are mentally blocked when a guy who evaluates them gives them the instruction. They trust fellow students more and follow their instruction faithfully. It is the senior students who play critical role in brainwashing the new comers. From the electives taken to the extracurricular activities chosen are guided and influenced by seniors. Just like how monkeys trusted fellow monkeys more, students trust fellow students more. Give it official sanction, I am sure they will do a better job.
Dear Prof,
ReplyDeleteOnce again you have ventured in a territory which is very dear to me. Studying & orienting behaviour of youngsters is something very close to me and comes naturally to me. I guess this is because of my first job in the Marketing department of a educational institute in Kolkata. In order to get maximum students enroll for our course, my primary job was to study their behaviour pattern and influence it positively with respect to our institute.
Coming to the point of orientation in B schools, i remember I had a verbal duel with the RMsec of my own batch on the issue of "how & when should the orientation session for our juniors be arranged". I was of the same view as yours (as per this post). However, the RMsec was trying to make me understand that this was not possible under present system.
I sincerely hope that you get an official sanction to pursue this forward as u just explained how "monkeys learn better with fellow monkeys"
Once again kudos to the experimenter and his experiments. It reveals a lot about human behaviour which we generally tend to ignore.
Take Care