Facing Uncertainty
"Tradition is the illusion of permanence." — Woody Allen
The Monkey, Banana, and Ladder Experiment is a well-known psychological parable often cited to illustrate how societal norms and behaviours persist—even when their original purpose has been forgotten. Though the scientific validity of the exact experiment is debated and no definitive record confirms it occurred precisely as described, the thought experiment remains a powerful metaphor for understanding conformity, culture, and the unspoken rules we follow without question.
Imagine a group of five monkeys placed in a cage. In the centre of the cage, a ladder leads to a bunch of bananas hanging above. Naturally, one monkey climbs the ladder to reach the fruit. But the moment it does, the entire group is blasted with cold water. The monkeys quickly learn to associate the action with collective punishment. As a result, whenever one attempts to climb the ladder, the others pull it down and attack it to prevent the punishment.
Over time, no monkey dares to approach the bananas. Then, one of the original monkeys is replaced with a new monkey who hasn't experienced the cold water. The newcomer instinctively moves towards the ladder, only to be beaten down by the others. Confused but compliant, it learns the rule: don't climb the ladder. Eventually, all the original monkeys are replaced, one by one. None of them have ever been sprayed with water, yet they still violently enforce a rule they do not understand. If you could ask them why, the answer would likely be, "That's just how things are done."
This experiment captures a fundamental truth about human behaviour: we inherit rules, norms, and assumptions not through understanding, but through imitation and enforcement. We conform not because we've investigated, but because we've been conditioned. What begins as a justified rule often decays into blind tradition, stripped of context, purpose, and meaning.
The solution begins with a deceptively simple question: Why? Asking "why" is not just an act of curiosity—it is an act of rebellion against blind conformity. It forces people to confront the roots of their beliefs, their habits, and their behaviours. When challenged, many cannot articulate a reason beyond, "That's how it's always been." And that is precisely the problem. To ask "why" requires more than intelligence—it demands self-awareness and humility. It asks someone to temporarily step outside their identity, to loosen their grip on what they've always believed to be true, and to risk being wrong. That is no small task. Most people avoid it because they fear the psychological instability that may follow. Human beings are wired to seek stability, certainty, and social belonging; questioning one's assumptions can threaten all three.
Ego is often the hidden barrier. Questioning long-held beliefs means accepting the possibility that you may have been wrong—perhaps for years, perhaps your entire life. This can be devastating to one's sense of identity. The fear isn't just intellectual; it's existential. People would often rather live inside a coherent lie than confront the chaos of not knowing. And yet, everything begins to change when that question is genuinely asked. The illusion cracks. The ladder and bananas are no longer sacred. The cold water? It was never there to begin with. But confronting this reality takes courage—because what you discover may render your past actions irrational, or even harmful. Still, "why" remains one of the most powerful tools for transformation. It is the first step—but most will avoid it because to ask "why" is to peer into the void—and the void may stare back.