Harlow's monkeys

Aim

Wanted to investigate comfort vs food and long term effects of maternal deprivation.

Procedure

Lab experiment.

16 monkey’s separated from mother.

• cloth mother: represent comfort.

• Wire mother: represents food.

Findings

Monkeys spent 22 hours with cloth mother and 2 hours with wire mother.

When frightened they clung onto the cloth mother for comfort and security.

Conclusion

Comfort is more important for forming attachments, not food.

Critical period: 90 days.

Strengths

1) supports human studies as Schaffer and Emerson showed that food wasn’t what led to attachments. It was one that met needs.

Limitations

1) Unethical as monkeys had sever distress and troubled raising children.