Isabel Fritz asked 4 สัปดาห์ ago
When animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg entered a Northwest Side pet shop in 1977 and purchased an obnoxious one-year-old baby african grey parrot for sale grey parrot named Alex, she began a 30-year experiment that altered the way we think about avian intelligence. Her study with Alex challenged the notion that birds only mimic human speech with any understanding of meaning.
What is Alex?
At first, Alex (short for Avian Learning Experiment) was a normal African Grey Parrot for Sale grey parrot bought from a pet retailer. Over the course of his life, he broke new ground in animal psychology and proved that animals are just as intelligent as primates or dolphins. In 2007 when he passed away, Alex was one of the most well-known talking birds in the world, appearing on television shows and in scientific reports.
In his entire life, Alex learned over 150 words and was able to recognize colors, shapes, materials, and quantities of objects. Alex also understood the meanings behind words, something that is not typical for birds. For instance, if you hear the word “grape” it would be clear that it was a fruit and not a vegetable. This was due to the way that Dr. Pepperberg taught him words. She and her assistant were able to play the roles of student and teacher, and Alex observed the actions and was attentive to the explanations. When he understood the correct pronunciation and meaning of the word the word, he was awarded the object that went along with it.
She also taught Alex the significance of words, instead of just the sounds. This was an innovative method because it’s usually the situation that pet parrots are taught words for their novelty value only. The owners don’t care about what they say when they use a certain word. However in the case of Alex, when he said the word he was using, he was really meaning what he was saying.
While many are awed by the fact that Alex was able to learn so much but some scientists have said that it is unfair to compare Alex with humans in terms of intelligence. They have pointed out that even though Alex was capable of communicating but he didn’t have the ability to work with logical expressions like “if there is x, then there must be y.”
Alex’s research on animal consciousness and intelligence is controversial. Alex was among the most famous and well-known talking parrots until his passing in 2007 at the age 31.
What was Alex’s personality like?
Alex was a violent member of a gang that was a fan of brutal acts. He was a likable character despite his violent tendencies and seemed to enjoy the power he had over his fellow hoodlums. He was addicted to violence and classical music. Beethoven’s music, in particular, always brought up images of depravity and blood for him. He and his group would drink milk that was mixed with drugs to prepare themselves for “ultraviolence.”
Alex’s background as a parrot at an animal shop was not exceptional but it served him well. Alex was quick to master words and concepts from his human trainer, Irene Pepperberg. Her research over thirty years on him revolutionized theories about animal cognition, communication and interaction. She is grateful to Alex with helping her learn how to use the model that worked for animals as well as children who had learning disabilities.
After her collaboration with him Dr. Pepperberg went on to conduct studies with other parrots, including Wart and Griffin. She is currently a professor at the University of Washington, where she continues her pioneering work with birds.
Alex is the youngest of the group, and also the most childlike. She is a little bit of a tomboy and has been described as being extremely teasing. She is the most animal-friendly member of the group. She often acts as peacemaker between Clover and Sam when they are involved in meaningless squabbles (such as in “Abductions”).
Alex has a strong sense of who she is and uses it as a tool to manipulate other people. This has led her into many disputes with other members of the gang, including her long-time enemy Gigi Hollingsworth who she blames for spilling juice all over her blanket as in the midst of her childhood (“Mime World”). She has also developed an Emo/Goth persona and is fond of dressing in black clothes and writing deep poems about loss and love (“Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands”). The show’s writers have cited that her top track is by Seth MacFarlane and she once was a lover of his.
What was Alex like in terms of intelligence?
When Alex was an African grey parrot first entered animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg’s world in 1977, he could be seen as just another pet. Alex revolutionized the research into animal psychology by showing that birds are more than just “rabbit minds.”
When Irene Pepperberg first saw him at the pet shop, Alex was already an skilled talker. He could categorize and name objects, and identify and request them. He could also express his emotions, for instance, when he was bored or frustrated during training sessions. He would communicate this to his trainers by placing his head against his cage or vocalizing loudly, “I want a banana.”
Alex’s intelligence was so advanced that he was able to comprehend and even categorize objects according to their shapes, colors, and materials. He was also able to discern a difference between a wood box and a plastic bag and count and compare quantities of different items. He even understood the concept zero, which most people don’t grasp until around four years old!
Alex’s skills were impressive as, unlike other parrots he understood what he said. He was adept at using his vocabulary of more than 100 words to describe requests, refuse, and objects, and also describe their dimensions and materials. He also demonstrated an ability to recognize analogies and recognize the written form of words – though he did not seem to connect these with spoken versions.
The majority of parrots learn words, but do not comprehend their meaning. Pepperberg and her assistants played out scenarios which involved the object they wanted Alex to master. This process is referred to as the rival model and it has since become a common method of teaching animals.
In addition to his brain abilities, Alex was a friendly and playful pet who loved to play with his owners. He often served as an advisor and cheerleader during the training sessions, encouraging or encouraging them to do better. He was also very attentive and was able to sense the emotions of his human companions. He would often leap into his owner’s arms when she was happy and would cling to her leg when she was sad or angry.
What was Alex’s influence?
In his short life, Alex changed many lives. His legacy is an example of his determination and determination. He was an inspiration to many mountain climbers, travelers, and people who aspired to live life on their own terms. He taught them that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. He believed that if you don’t care what others think of your character, you will achieve greatness.
In the course of his journey, Chris/Alex had to face many obstacles. He had to deal with the loss of his father, financial challenges and even adversity. He was able to conquer every obstacle with his determination and perseverance. He never gave up his goal of becoming a successful mountain climber. He continued to strive for his goal, and eventually became one of the most renowned mountain climbers in the world.
Even after his passing, he continues to inspire people across the world. The film Free Solo is a documentary about Alex’s life and incredible climbing achievements. This film has received much critical acclaim, and is regarded as one of the greatest documentaries ever produced. It has been awarded numerous awards including the Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary Feature.
In addition to his collaboration with Dr. Pepperberg, Alex also pioneered new avenues of the field of avian intelligence. He could perform more than 100 vocal labels for actions and objects, was able to count objects up to six, and showed math skills that were quite advanced caring for an grey parrot a bird at the time.
He was also able to communicate with other animals via signs and had a solid understanding of grammar. He employed a method of training called “rival model” which involved two trainers showing the bird what they were trying to teach it. The trainers would often switch positions so that the bird could interact with them and receive the attention of each.
Alex was named as a National Hero in 2014 by President Barack Obama after the success of Free Solo. He was able to accomplish many things throughout his life due to his strength of character and the desire to live life on his own terms.
