In one study, orangutans imitated the behavior of both humans and other orangutans, but they were more likely to imitate high-status or dominant models than low-status models. The orangutans were also more likely to imitate models with whom they had close relationships, such as biological parents, siblings, or their human caregivers. Human strangers were virtually never imitated. This study illustrates that positive punishment factors seem to play a role in observational learning in primates, just as with humans.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study described illustrates the role of social status, relationship closeness, and possibly social learning or imitation biases in primates, not the role of positive punishment in observational learning. Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant consequence after a behavior to decrease that behavior, which is not what is being described in the study's findings.

In One Study, Orangutans Imitated the Behavior of Both Humans