Harlow’s monkeys (1958)

When did Harlow do his monkey experiment?

1958

Who experimented on monkeys in 1958?

Harlow

Harlow (1958) aim

Extent to which contact comfort and food influence attachment in baby Rhesus monkeys

How many experiments was Harlow (1958)?

2

Both had same aim

Method of experiment 1 Harlow (1958)

1.4 conditions:

-wire mother dispenses milk, towel mother doesn’t

-Towel mother dispenses milk, wire doesn’t

-Only wire mother, dispenses milk

-Only cloth mother, dispenses milk

2. Record amount of time spent with each mother

3. Put monkeys in stressful situations and record preference for what mother

What were the 4 conditions in experiment 1 Harlow (1958)?

-Wire mother dispenses milk, towel mother doesn’t

-Towel mother dispenses milk, wire does not

-Only wire mother, dispenses milk

-Only cloth mother, dispenses milk

What 2 things were recorded in experiment 1 Harlow (1958)?

Time spent with each mother

Which one was chosen in a stressful situation

Results of experiment 1 Harlow (1958) (2)

-Given the choice, monkeys ALWAYS chose towel mother

-Monkeys in wire condition constantly showed signs of stress eg: diarrhoea

What is:

-Given the choice, monkeys ALWAYS chose towel mother

-Monkeys in wire condition constantly showed signs of stress eg: diarrhoea

Results of experiment 1 Harlow (1958)

Which mother did the moneys always choose in Harlow (1958)?

Towel mother regardless of who nursed them

What happened to the monkeys in the wire mother only condition in Harlow (1958)?

Constantly showed signs of stress eg: diarrhoea

Conclusion of experiment 1 Harlow (1958)

Monkeys have an innate drive to seek comfort from parents therefore:

attachment is formed through emotional need for security rather than food

What is:

Monkeys have an innate drive to seek comfort from parents therefore:

attachment is formed through emotional need for security rather than food

Conclusion of experiment 1 Harlow (1958)

Method of experiment 2 Harlow (1958)

Infant monkeys separated into 2 groups:

-wire mother w/ food

-towel mother w/ no food

All monkeys drank and grew at same rate but showed behavioural differences

Results of experiment 2 Harlow (1958)

Monkeys w/ surrogate mothers showed 5 behavioural differences:

1. More timid

2. Easily bullied

3. Trouble socialising

4. Difficulty mating

5. Inadequate mothers

5 behavioural differences monkeys w/ surrogate mothers showed in experiment 2 Harlow (1958)

1. More timid

2. Easily bullied

3. Trouble socialising

4. Difficulty mating

5. Inadequate mothers

Conclusion of experiment 2 Harlow (1958)

Maternal deprivation is permanent coz they grew up to be dysfunctional adults

Only if deprived >90 days, less than it was reversible

When was maternal deprivation reversible?

<90 days

4 impacts of Harlow (1958)

-Helped social workers understand and risk factors of child neglect + abuse

-Benefit at risk kids

-Convinced people of importance of emotional care in places like care homes

-Insight in how attachment affects social behaviour