Score one for evolutionists

From the Wall Street Journal, courtesy of Slate:

In a study titled "Monkeys Pay Per View," neuroscientists at Duke University discovered that rhesus monkeys will give up a portion of hard-earned perks for a peek at pictures of the dominant leaders and nubile females in their troop. But they won't pony up to look at faces of subordinate simians.

"People are willing to pay money to look at pictures of high-ranking human primates. When you fork out $3" for a celebrity magazine, [said one researcher], "you're doing exactly what the monkeys are doing."

Wait, does that explain why every time I see Paris Hilton, I want to throw poop at her?

Posted by Jason Feifer at February 14, 2005 12:27 AM