The scientists placed monkeys in a cage with a ladder with bananas at the top. Any monkey that climbed the ladder would be punished by the other monkeys being sprayed with cold water. Over time, the monkeys formed a paradigm where any monkey that climbed the ladder would be beaten by the others, even if they had never personally experienced the cold water punishment. When new monkeys were introduced, they quickly learned not to climb the ladder due to being beaten by the other monkeys, perpetuating the paradigm without understanding its origins.

1. How is a
paradigm
formed?

2. A group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in aA group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in a
cage and in the middle, a ladder with bananascage and in the middle, a ladder with bananas
on the top.on the top.

3. Every time a monkey went up the ladder, theEvery time a monkey went up the ladder, the
scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys withscientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with
cold water.cold water.

4. After a while, every time a monkey went up theAfter a while, every time a monkey went up the
ladder, the others beat up the one on theladder, the others beat up the one on the
ladder.ladder.

5. After some time, no monkey dare to go upAfter some time, no monkey dare to go up
the ladder regardless of the temptation.the ladder regardless of the temptation.

6. Scientists then decided to substitute one of theScientists then decided to substitute one of the
monkeys. The 1monkeys. The 1stst
thing this new monkey did was tothing this new monkey did was to
go up the ladder. Immediately the other monkeysgo up the ladder. Immediately the other monkeys
beat him up.beat him up.
After several beatings,
the new member learned
not to climb the ladder
even though never knew
why.

7. A 2nd
monkey was substituted and the same occurred.
The 1st
monkey participated on the beating for the 2nd
monkey. A 3rd
monkey was changed and the same was
repeated (beating). The 4th
was substituted and the
beating was repeated and finally the 5th
monkey was
replaced.

8. What was left was a group of 5 monkeys that
even though never received a cold shower,
continued to beat up any monkey who
attempted to climb the ladder.

9. If it was possible to ask the monkeys why they would beat up
all those who attempted to go up the ladder…..
I bet you the answer would be….
“I don’t know – that’s how things are done around
here”
Does it sounds familiar?

10. Don’t miss the opportunity to share this with
others as they might be asking themselves
why we continue to do what we are doing if
there is a different way out there.

11. "Only two things are infinite:
The universe and human
stupidity. And I am not so sure
about the former."
Albert Einstein