Puppystuff

November 2, 2012

echoboots:

deeeeeeeeeeeespookyaaaaaaaaaaaan:

dooooooooooooooooctor:

that-1one-guy:

psych-facts:

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.

Source: http://0c6cada9.linkbucks.com

I know plenty of people that wouldnt do anything like that

I know I wouldn’t save my fucking chip for someone

that awkward moment when rats are more emphatic than people

Rats are intelligent and friendly, and I am utterly unsurprised to learn they are also empathetic. <3

Thanks echoboots for reminding me there’s probably something hardwired for altruism in many if not most of us.

Even if folks occasionally say or do things that are just plain nasty, there’s also that shred of self, be it large or small, that would help another being in distress — and maybe even save them a snack as well.