Harlow - Animal Studies Of Attachment

Question 1

What was Harlows aim, sample and method?

Answer 1

Harlow investigated whether food or comfort is more important in the formation of att using a lab exp with 16 baby rhesus monkeys

Question 2

What was Harlows procedure?

Answer 2

• baby rhesus monkeys were separated from their mothers at birth
• they were brought up in cages containing two diff types of surrogate mothers, a wire mother with milk and a cloth mother providing comfort
• amount of time with each mother was recorded
• the long term effects were recorded such as how social they were and rs to future offspring

Question 3

What were Harlows findings and conclusions?

Answer 3

• monkeys spent more time with cloth mother than wire mother
• when frightened monkeys wud go to cloth mother
• later in life monkeys had emotional damage such as being easily bullied, difficulty mating and females being inadequate mothers when they were older
• harlow concluded contact comfort is the most important factor when forming an att

Question 4

What are the three AO3 points to evaluate Harlows animal studies of attachment?

Answer 4

• prac apps
• animal bias
• ethical issues