Harlow

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To demonstrate that attachment was not based on the feeding bond between mother and infant as predicted by learning theory

Question 2

Procedures?

Answer 2

• Two wire mothers created, each with a different head and one wrapped in soft cloth
• Eight infant monkeys
• Studied for 165 days
• 4 monkeys had a milk bottle on the cloth mother
• Other 4 had it on the wire mother
• Measurements made for amount of time each monkey spent with the two different mothers
• Observations made of monkeys’ responses when frightened

Question 3

Findings?

Answer 3

All 8 monkeys spent most of their time with cloth-covered mother
Monkeys fed from wire mother spent short amount of time

Question 4

Findings (long-lasting effects)

Answer 4

• Motherless monkeys developed abnormally
• socially abnormal; froze/fled when approached by other monkeys
• sexually abnormal; no normal mating behaviour and did not cradle their babies
• found a critical period for these effects
• if the motherless monkeys spent time with monkey peers they could recover - only before 3 months old

Question 5

Evaluation 1 (strength + weakness)

Answer 5

• Generalising animal studies to human behaviour
• much of human behaviour is governed by conscious decisions
• Many studies found observations made of animal attachment behaviour are mirrored in studies of humans
• Schaffer and Emerson findings support Harlow; infants were not most attached to the person that fed them

Question 6

Evaluation 2 (strength + weakness)

Answer 6

• Ethics
• lasting emotional harm; monkeys found it difficult to form relationships with peers
• Can be justified
• had significant effect on our understanding of the processes of attachment
• research derived from study has been used to offer better care for infants
• benefits may arguably outweigh the costs