2.1 Rats and Empathy

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Many scientific experiments have been conducted to test the levels of empathy that operate in rats. The first experiment tested to see whether a rat would choose to save another rat, or eat chocolate instead. It had to choose between going through two doors- one with chocolate, and one that had to be pushed through in order to allow the other rat to escape from a small container of water that it was trapped in. It was successful 50 to 80 percent of the time, with the rat choosing to help the other over chocolate. Another experiment was conducted by researchers in Chicago to see if rats see race. Unfortunately, the first test showed that rats most likely would not help rats of another strain. After testing it was revealed that it did not involve race- but familiarity. If rats have spent extended amounts of time together, they will help those of another strain if they have known each other previously. These two experiments prove that rats can be empathetic and are not as "mindless" as many have previously believed.

These are two different rats- one albino and one black hooded.


Sources

Are Rats Born Racist?
Rats Forsake Chocolate to Save a Drowning Companion

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