Harlow 1958 - Rhesus Monkey Experiments.

Question 1

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 1

Investigate the factors that influence the development of attachment by infant rhesus monkeys to their mothers.

Question 2

What was the method of the study?

Answer 2

Lab experiment:

8 Rhesus monkies seperate from mothers at birth.

Raised in individual cages.

Two surrogate wire mesh mothers - similar size and shape of real mother.

1 cloth 1 unconvered.

Half the monkeys were fed by wire, half by cloth.

Question 3

What were the 3 measurements of the study?

Answer 3

1. Time spent on surrogate.

If cupboard love theories were correct, they would prefer the surrogate with the bottle.
However, by age of 3 weeks, spent 1-2 hours with the uncovered. And 15-18 with the covered.
Regardless of who fed them.

2. Reaction to being under threat.

Created stressful experiences.
Monkeys sought contact with cloth mother than the wire mother.
Regardless of which fed them.
+ created a secure base with cloth mother, gained confidence and began confronting the danger.

3. Strange Environment.

Monkey introduced to a strange environment.
No surrogate present = no comfort and would cower.
Wire surrogate = same as no surrogate.
Cloth surrogate = sought comfort through contact with cloth mother, then explored the environment.

Question 4

Conclusion of Harlow’s Rhesus Monkeys (1958)?

Answer 4

Attachement is more complicated that cupboard love theories.
Attachment are formed with person who provides comfort and emotional support rather than simply the person who feeds you.

Question 5

Evaluate Harlow’s Rhesus Monkey Experiments.

Try to think of at least 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses.

Answer 5

Strength:
While ethically concerning, study could not be conducted on humans and info gained could be seen as warranting the study.

While not exactly representive of humans. Rhesus Monkeys are cognitively similar to humans of the age group of humans intended to be compared to.

Weaknesses:

Monkeys not representive of humans. Small sample, not generalisable.

Unclear if it is in fact measuring attachment (could just be measuring textile comfort).

Ethical issues - long term harm, breaching protection of participants.
- makes replicating difficult.