Five Monkeys

As far as I learned this was not a literal experiment, just a fiction used in a business setting to provoke thought. The original source, history, and author seem to have disappeared into the vastness of the internet, but I would like to give them credit. Hopefully this does their idea justice and they don't sue me.

Drawn/Animated/Composited/Colored: Michael Basilico
Narrator: Arthur Shink
Monkey: Kyle Hoffman
Music: Stock Elevator Music
Source: http://i.imgur.com/I6DEE.jpg

five monkeys

start with a cage containing five monkeys

in the cage hang a banana on a string

and place a set of stairs under it

before long a monkey would go to the staris

and start to climb towards the banana

as soon as he touches the stairs

all of the monkeys are sprayed with cold water

after a while another monkey tries with same result

all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water

pretty soon none of the monkeys would try climbing the stairs

now, put away the cold water

remove one monkey from the cage,

and replace it with a new one

The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs

To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him

after another attempt and attack

he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted

next, remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with a new one

The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked

The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm

likewise replace a third original monkey with a new one

then a forth and a fifth

Every time the newest monkey takes to to stairs he is attacked.

Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they are beating him

After replacing all the original monkeys

none of the remaining monkeys has ever been sprayed with cold water

nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana

Why not?

Because, as far as they know, that the way it always been done around here

And that is how government policy is being maintained