Harlow (1958)

Why did Harlow (1958) carry out the experiment?

He was interested whether attachment bonds are based upon food or comfort

What type of monkey did Harlow (1958) use?

Rhesus monkeys

What did Harlow (1958) use to imitate mother monkeys?

He created to wire mothers, one bare, the other wrapped in soft cloth

What was the procedure of Harlow (1958)?

- 8 infant rhesus monkeys were separated from their mothers at birth

- Each monkey was placed in a cage with the two wire mothers

- For 4 monkeys, a milk bottle was attached to the cloth mother, the other 4 has the milk bottle attached to the wire mother

- Monkeys were studied for 165 days

What was measured in Harlow (1958)?

How much time each monkey spent with each mother and their reactions were tested when the monkeys were scared or introduced to new toys.

What are the findings of Harlow (1958)?

- All 8 monkeys spent majority of their time with the cloth monkey

- The 4 monkeys who fed from the bare mother only spent a short amount of time getting milk from them and them return to the cloth mother

What did the monkeys do when they were scared in Harlow (1958)?

They clung on to the cloth mother

What did the monkeys do when they were introduced to new toys in Harlow (1958)

The kept a foot on the cloth mother for reassurance

What was the conclusion of Harlow (1958)?

Harlow concluded that infants don't form an attachment with the person who feeds them and that attachment is formed with whoever offers the, contact-comfort

What were some long lasting effects the monkeys faced after Harlow (1958)?

- They were socially abnormal as they froze or fled when approached by other monkeys

- They were sexually abnormal as they didn't show normal mating behaviour and neglected, harmed or killed their infants

What did Harlow conclude after witnessing the long lasting effects his study had on the monkeys?

He concluded that contact-comfort with an unresponsive mother-figure isn't enough for healthy social and emotional development.