Prof talks primate behavior at frat

Last night the brothers of Phi Delta Theta and their guests heard a lecture on the economics of monkey business.

The Phi Delt brothers did not hear about actual monkeys in the business world, but they did listen to Psychology Professor Robert Seyfarth give a lecture entitled "Monkey Business," which discussed animal and human behavior.

Seyfarth has been studying the habits of baboons and monkeys for over 25 years. He studied in Kenya for 11 years and Botswana for 13 years.

With this background, Seyfarth spoke about the similarities between monkeys, baboons and humans.

Seyfarth spoke about how humans develop having a "theory of mind" in which we learn to attribute mental states to another person.

Children begin to learn at the age of 5 or 6 that other people's thoughts, beliefs and desires are different from their own.

Seyfarth repeatedly stressed that there is currently no good evidence showing that animals possess a theory of mind.

The Phi Delt brothers were pleased to have Seyfarth add a different perspective to the Greek system.

"We decided we wanted to add an academic part to our everyday life in the fraternity," Wharton senior and Phi Delta Theta President John Labanowski said.

Labanowski added that Seyfarth has a "great reputation among the students," and that, "Unless students are in the major they are not going to hear most of this stuff."

Labanowski was also pleased with the attendance rate. "We filled the whole room."

According to College senior and Phi Delt Vice President Steve Graf, the fraternity is looking to have another lecture event.

Phi Delt is searching for professors, businessmen and other prominent figures outside of Penn to speak at their next venue.

Phi Delt will "try to grow this into a popular event among the Penn community," Labanowski said.

"There is a stigma on Greeks," Graf said. "We are trying to bring intellectualization to the Greek system."

The lecture did not disappoint the students in the audience.

College sophomore and biological basis of behavior major Joshua Kamins thought this was a great way to learn more about his area of study.

"I learned some new things," Kamins said. Seyfarth "kept my attention."

College junior Gregory Tidwell, who heard about the event through his Anthropology professor, said, "I liked the event because we got to talk about the evolution of our own behavior."

Despite his new surroundings, Seyfarth was pleased with the audience.

"I've never spoken in a fraternity house before," Seyfarth said. "It's always interesting to talk about your work to an audience that is curious and intelligent."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.