Harlow-animal studies

Question 1

Define cuboard love theory?

Answer 1

Harlow tested ‘cuboard love’, babies love mothers because they feed them

Question 2

A01

The basis of Harlows Research (1958) Contact comfort

Harlow conducted animal research to inform our understanding of attachment

Answer 2

Observed new borns kept alone in cage
> found survived if given soft cloth to play/cuddle
tested ‘cupboard love’ babies love mothers because feed them.
Suggested instead ‘contact comfort’
>babies have innate need for physical contact
> forms basis of attachment

Question 3

Outline

Harlows Procedure

Experiment

Answer 3

> reared 16 Rhesus monkeys with 2 wire models’mothers’
All removed from biological mothers & placed with surrogate mother
one condition-milk dispensed by plain wire mother
second condition- milk dispensed by cloth covered mother

Question 4

Outline

Harlow’s research Findings

Answer 4

Monkeys cuddled cloth wired mothers in preference to plain wired mother regardless of which mother dispensed milk
>monkeys with cloth wired mothers demonstrated confidence in novel situations
> monkeys without access to cloth mother-signs of distress
> Showed contact comfort more important than food in attachment behaviours

Novel situations- frightened situations

Question 5

Outline

What Harlows contact comfort study suggests

Answer 5

Monkeys have biological need for physical contact & will attach to whatever provides comfort rather than food
> goes against cupboard love theory

Question 6

A01

Maternally deprived monkeys

Answer 6

Harlow followed Monkeys who have been deprived of ‘real’ mother into adulthood-resulted in permanent disorders( difficulty in maintaining behaviour and raising offspring
* Monkeys reared with plain wired mothers
most dysfunctional
* Monkeys reared with cloth-less dysfunctional, but also aggressive and LESS SOCIABLE

Question 7

A01

Critical period for attachment formation

Answer 7

mother figure had to be introduced to young monkeys within 90 days

After this time attachment is impossible , & damagae done by early deprivation is irreversible

Question 8

A03

Real world Applications

Strength

Answer 8

Real world applications
>research is theoretical & practical
>helps social workers understand lack of bonding experience as risk factor in childs development & cases of infant neglect
> importance of attachment figures in zoos as well- research thus practical

Question 9

A03 evaluation

Generalisability to humans (limitations)

Limitation

Answer 9

Ability to generalise findings from monkeys to humans
> rhesus monkeys similar to humans however
>human brain & behaviour more complex
> not appropriate to generalise as still are significant differences in both biology & cultural/ social enviroments

Question 10

A03 Evaluation

Ethical issues

Limitation

Answer 10

• Harlowes research casued severe & long-term distress to the monkeys.
• However his findings & conclusions have important theoretiucal & practical applications