These mice, however, could not cope with unusual stimuli. All appeared as a beautiful exhibit of the species with keen, alert eyes and a healthy well-kept body. They never involved themselves with others, engaged in sex, nor would they fight. Their time was devoted solely to grooming, eating and sleeping. Dr Calhoun called these individuals "the beautiful ones". Other young mice growing into adulthood exhibited an even different type of behaviour. These individuals would have badly chewed and scarred tails. Ceratin individuals became targets of repeated attacks. The effects of violence became increasingly visible. Huddling together, they would exhibit brief flurries of violence amongst themselves. Excess males strived for acceptance, were rejected and withdrew. Dr Calhoun noticed that the newer generations of young were inhibited, since most space was already socially defined.Īt this time, some unusual behaviour become noticeable. This was called the "equilibrium" period. The third period, consisting of three hundred days, found the population of mice leveling off. As the population increased, most mice associated eating and drinking with the presence of others. Although each living unit was identical in structure and opportunities, more food and water was consumed in some areas. The population of the mice doubled every sixty days. The next period lasted about two hundred and fifty days. Territories were established and nests were made. Within the first one hundred days, the mice went through the period Dr Calhoun called, "strive". To see how Dr Calhoun's mouse universe grew, we use the familiar population graph again. In effect, the mouse universe simulated the present situation of the continually expanding population of humans. Factors which normally control population growth such as predation by owls and cats were eliminated. In this sixteen cell mouse habitat, utopian conditions of nutrition, comfort and housing were provided for the potential population of over three thousand mice. In a unique experiment that took years to complete, Doctor Calhoun used white mice to study population growth and its effects on individual behaviour. Transcript from the film Mouse Utopia Experiment on Youtube: Sleek, healthy coats and an absence of scars characterized these males. They ate, drank, slept, and groomed themselves – all solitary pursuits.
Their male counterparts withdrew completely, never engaging in courtship or fighting. During this period females ceased to reproduce. passivity of non-dominant males with increased attacks on each other which were not defended against.Īfter day 600, the social breakdown continued and the population declined toward extinction.inability of dominant males to maintain the defense of their territory and females,.expulsion of young before weaning was complete,.Among the aberrations in behavior were the following: This period between day 315 and day 600 saw a breakdown in social structure and in normal social behavior.
The population reached 620 by day 315, after which the population growth dropped markedly. Initially the population grew rapidly, doubling every 55 days. The only adversity was the limit on space. There was no shortage of food or water or nesting material. The "tunnels" gave access to nesting boxes, food hoppers, and water dispensers. Each side had four groups of four vertical, wire mesh "tunnels". The universe was a 9-foot (2.7 m) square metal pen with 54-inch-high (1.4 m) sides. In July 1968 four pairs of mice were introduced into the Utopian universe. Calhoun, "Death Squared: The Explosive Growth and Demise of a Mouse Population" Proc. The number of mice in the Calhoun's experiment
#Mice utopia experiment movie
Link to the transcript of the most important parts of the movie "Critical mass" connected with Calhoun's experimentĬalhoun's experiment - important insights.Official website of the film "Critical mass" which portrays Calhoun's experiment.Calhoun's original graph of the development of the population.This is one of the most enlightening works concerning the depths of human nature, so all available information has been collected here. This was John Calhoun's deepest concern - I shall largely speak of mice, but my thoughts are on man,….
Due to the lack of challenges, extinction was inevitable.
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