shminux comments on Rationality and Relationships - Less Wrong

13 Post author: lukeprog 08 August 2011 04:02AM

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Comment author: shminux 10 August 2011 11:14:02PM 0 points [-]

I agree with you, but this experiment could not have been ethically performed on lab mice or monkeys.

And yeah, he should have abandoned it right there, rather than pushing it to this limit, as a proof that it was the model that worked, not his personal charms or maybe the bar ambiance, and conduct a new trial. Certainly would not satisfy the standard required for publication in relevant psychological journals. Then again, he was not fond of repeating it.

Comment author: novalis 11 August 2011 12:15:07AM 0 points [-]

I agree with you, but this experiment could not have been ethically performed on lab mice or monkeys.

But mere women, well, surely they could suffer for the sake of an experiment.

Comment author: Manfred 11 August 2011 12:54:08AM 5 points [-]

Suffer is perhaps not the correct word here. I think shminux is thinking of experimenters wining and dining (or not) and then having sex with monkeys.

However there is a totally viable experimental design with monkeys, if any monkeys exhibit gift-giving as a part of mating - just make sure that the males have some resource, train some to give the gift and some not to, put them in a position where they're trying to win the attentions of a female, and watch what happens.