Impact of Visual Context on Public Perceptions of Non-Human Primate Performers
Open accessAbstract
Prior research has shown that the use of apes, specifically chimpanzees, as performers in the media negatively impacts public attitudes of their conservation status and desirability as a pet, yet it is unclear whether these findings generalize to other non-human primates (specifically non-ape species). We evaluated the impact of viewing an image of a monkey or prosimian in an anthropomorphic or naturalistic setting, either in contact with or in the absence of a human. Viewing the primate in an anthropomorphic setting while in contact with a person significantly increased their desirability as a pet, which also correlated with increased likelihood of believing the animal was not endangered. The majority of viewers felt that the primates in all tested images were "nervous." When shown in contact with a human, viewers felt they were "sad" and "scared", while also being less "funny." Our findings highlight the potential broader implications of the use of non-human primate performers by the entertainment industry.
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A recent follow up study demonstrated that viewers shown images of capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs in close contact with humans showed an increased desire to keep these primates as pets, compared to viewers shown images of these same species in natural forested areas.
“A recent follow up study further supported this finding and demonstrated that viewers shown images of capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs in close contact with humans also showed an increased desire to keep these primates as pets, compared to viewers shown images of these same species in natural forested areas [153].”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [153]
The Results and Discussion report that viewers of images showing these primates in contact with a human in an office setting were significantly more likely to consider them as pets than viewers of images in a natural setting. The claim omits the office-setting qualifier: human contact in a natural setting did not show the same increase. The Data analysis section says responses did not differ by species and were pooled. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredViewers were more likely to describe the animals as appearing "happy" when shown in the absence of people.
“Interestingly, viewers were more likely to describe the animals as appearing “happy” when shown in the absence of people.”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [153]
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Research works printed but not linked: 8
- [1]Schroepfer KK, Rosati AG, Chartrand T, Hare B (2011) Use of “entertainment” chimpanzees in commercials distorts public perception regarding their conservation status. PLoS ONE. 6(10). (10.1371/journal.pone.0026048). 22022503 PMC3192158 · DOI
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- [8]Ross SR, Vreeman VM, Lonsdorf EV (2011) Specific image characteristics influence attitudes about chimpanzee conservation and use as pets. PLoS ONE. 6(7). (10.1371/journal.pone.0022050). 21779372 PMC3135618 · DOI · Paper page
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The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare
Sherwen, S. L., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2019) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani9060366 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
“A recent follow up study further supported this finding and demonstrated that viewers shown images of capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs in close contact with humans also showed an increased desire to keep these primates as pets, compared to viewers shown images of these same species in natural…”
Result
- Authors
- Leighty, K. A., Valuska, A. J., Grand, A. P., Bettinger, T. L., Mellen, J. D., Ross, S. R., Boyle, P., & Ogden, J. J.
- Affiliations
- Walt Disney (United States) (US)
- Lincoln Park Zoo (US)
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (US)
- Corresponding author
- Leighty, Katherine A.
- ORCID
- Ross, Stephen R.
- Venue
- PLOS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2015-02-25
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e0118487
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4340917
- OpenAlex
- W2043948789
- Cited by
- 101
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 4.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Animal and Plant Science Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Keywords
- non-human primates, visual context, anthropomorphism, public perception, entertainment industry, prosimians
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Female, Humans, Male, Perception, Primates, Public Opinion, Surveys and Questionnaires, Visual Cortex
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