Total Social Isolation in Monkeys Study Notes

Total Social Isolation in Monkeys

  • Authors: Harry F. Harlow, Robert O. Dodsworth, Margaret K. Harlow

    • Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Primate Laboratory and Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin

  • Presentation Date: April 28, 1965

Introduction

  • Human Social Isolation

    • Recognized as a significant problem with far-reaching implications.
    • Negative Effects:
    • Impairs personal adjustment.
    • Disrupts normal heterosexual development.
    • Leads to difficulty in controlling aggressive and delinquent behaviors.

  • Causes of Isolation:

    • Breakdowns in family structures.
    • Results in:
    • Orphaned or semi-orphaned children.
    • Illegitimate children raised in:
      • Institutions.
      • Inadequate foster homes.
      • Abnormal homes with relatives.

  • Research Limitations on Humans:

    • Difficulty in scientifically studying human social isolation.
    • Challenges:
    • Numerous variables that are resistant to experimental manipulation and control.

  • Focus of Research:

    • Subjects: Rhesus monkeys.
    • Rationale:
    • Established parallels in normal social development of humans and monkeys.
    • Fundamental laws governing social behaviors likely similar across species.
    • Insight into human social isolation can be gained from studies on monkeys.

Methodology

  • Previous Research:

    • Investigated effects of partial social isolation by raising monkeys from birth in bare wire cages.
    • Findings indicated severe psychological syndromes:
    • Compulsive non-nutritional sucking.
    • Repetitive stereotyped movements.
    • Emotional detachment from the environment.
    • Hostility directed outwards towards others and inwards towards self.
    • Inability to form adequate social or heterosexual attachments during preadolescence, adolescence, or adulthood.

  • Current Study Overview:

    • Studying effects of total social isolation.
    • Setup:
    • Monkeys housed in a stainless-steel chamber from a few hours after birth until:
      • 3 months.
      • 6 months.
      • 12 months of age.
    • Chamber characteristics:
    • Total lack of contact with other animals or humans.
    • Designed to provide basic sensory experiences:
      • Constant illumination.
      • Sound transmission capability.
      • Opportunities for cutaneous-proprioceptive expression and exploration.
    • Environmental Conditions:
    • Outside noise masked by a 70 dB white noise source.
    • Loud corridor sounds elicited attentive responses or freezing.

Conclusions

  • The study aims to further understand the impacts of complete social isolation in primates and the implications this may have for understanding social deprivation effects in humans.