1. Start with a cage containing five apes. In the cage,
hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it.
Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start
to climb toward the Banana.
2. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of
the apes with cold water. After a while, another ape
makes an attempt with the same result--all the apes
are sprayed with cold water.
3. Turn off the cold water. If later another ape tries
to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent
it even though no water sprays them.
4. Now, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with
a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to
climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack
him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he
tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
5. Next, remove another of the original five apes 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.
6. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one.
The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as
well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea
why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why
they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.
7. After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes,
all the apes which have been sprayed with cold water
have been replaced.
Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs.
Why not?
"BECAUSE that's the way it's always been done around here."