Viki Compensates for Physical Differences

Chimpanzees’ body structure is very similar to humans’. However, there are some differences, and Viki was able to adjust her activities to compensate for the differences in order to do things she needed, or wanted, to do.

For example, chimpanzees have a much shorter thumb than humans, causing a problem with finger-thumb opposition in the "pincer grasp" that we use to pick up and manipulate small objects. With her short thumb, Viki might have found it difficult or impossible to hold or carry objects in the same manner as humans. As we see in this clip, Viki worked around this potential limitation. Note her use of the pincer grasp as she holds the cigarette. Also note how silly it looks for a chimpanzee to smoke. It would look pretty similar on you!

Copyright ©1952 by Keith Hayes, used with permission. All rights reserved.