Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0983
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0983
+44 1478 350008
Aim: Here we conduct a field-experiment to test a hypothesis about the degrees both of positive and negative level of patriotism in a Solenopsis invicta group to answer a question about: what is the determinant factor which produces patriotism between chauvinism or sense of solidarity.
Methods: We applied behavioral techniques such as providing food stimulus treatment (glucose), food robber, and a friend who was injured in a controlled manner. In first stage (1), we put a piece of candy near a crowd of fire ants. In second stage (2), we tried to rob the candy with a small wooden stick. In third stage (3), we deliberately injuring one of ants with a wooden stick as we continued to rob the candy. Then we calculated two types of responses: A) Negative responses (chauvinism) such as defend the candy from robber (self fish) and attacking the robber (wooden stick), and B) Positive response (solidarity) such as swarming pieces of candy without a fight but sharing and helping the injured (victim one).
Results and Discussion: In first stage (1), there were ants swarming pieces of candy without a fight. In second stage (2), a crowd of fire ants group trying to defend the candy while another group attacked our stick. In third stage (3), a group of ants swarming to help the injured (victim one) while several others still fighting for their candy from our wooden stick. In all responses, they behave negatively 60% and positively 40%. Its meant that the level of chauvinism was more higher than sense of solidarity in this group.
Conclusion: These findings may let us to propose a hypothesis that patriotism seems was more established based on chauvinism than sense of solidarity. It may have natural implications to human behavior that patriotism in all nation was more established based on the need to defend all survival matter including food territories by race instinct than positive traits such as sense of solidarity. Sense of solidarity may exist and has a role in patriotism but in a smaller level than chauvinism. In hope, as human, we could promote our sense of solidarity as a natural inheritage more than chauvinism to make the better life.