*3b.1: study: emotion over physiological needs with Rhesus monkeys (Harlow, 1958)

aim

To determine if food or close comfort were more important in the formation of attachments

Method

• Rhesus monkeys removed from mothers at birth

• Half the monkeys raised by surrogate mothers made by wire, with bottle attached

• other half raised by surrogate mothers made of soft cloth, without bottle

Key Findings

• Cloth surrogate acted as a secure base

• it allowed the monkeys to move from ‘mother’ and explore environment, returning to safety

• attachment stronger when mother was able to rock, feed and provide warmth

• feeding and nourishment do not create attachment: contact, comfort is more important

Contribution

• challenged the long held importance of food (cupboard love)

• evidence for the importance of social and emotional factors

• stimulated further research

• insights into the consequences of neglect and abuse during childhood

• used to inform inventions

Criticisms

Ethical:

• prolonged isolation and psychological distress

Reductionist:

• not naturalistic as it was completed in a laboratory

• simplified complexity by neglecting the influence of cultural and contextual factors

Generalisability:

• not generalisable to humans