Your Students Will Love This Demo of Primate Object Permanence

david_myers
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‎08-23-2017 08:47 AM

As Nathan DeWall and I explain in Psychology, 11th Edition, “Young infants lack object permanence—the awareness that objects continue to exist even when not perceived. By 8 months, infants begin exhibiting memory for things no longer seen.”

 

Given the early age at which infants display object permanence by looking for a hidden toy after a several second wait do developing primates also display a recall for objects no longer seen?

 

Research suggests that orangutans possess object permanence. . . . a point illustrated in this hilarious 38-second YouTube video pointed out to me by a Facebook engineer who happens to be one of my former students (and also one of my children Smiley Happy).

About the Author
David Myers has spent his entire teaching career at Hope College, Michigan, where he has been voted “outstanding professor” and has been selected by students to deliver the commencement address. His award-winning research and writings have appeared in over three dozen scientific periodicals and numerous publications for the general public. He also has authored five general audience books, including The Pursuit of Happiness and Intuition: Its Powers and Perils. David Myers has chaired his city's Human Relations Commission, helped found a thriving assistance center for families in poverty, and spoken to hundreds of college and community groups. Drawing on his experience, he also has written articles and a book (A Quiet World) about hearing loss, and he is advocating a transformation in American assistive listening technology (see www.hearingloop.org).