Harlow - Animal Studies Of Attachment Flashcards
What are the three AO3 points to evaluate Harlows animal study of attachment?
- prac apps
- animal bias
- ethical issues
P
(prac apps)
- strength - prac apps
E
the principles of the research findings that contact comfort is most important when forming att, has been used in the real world to highlight risk factors and find prevent strategies for poor human att.
E
Harlows findings have been used by health professionals to help them prevent poor outcomes e.g. problematic future rs caused by a lack of comfort bonding experience that could result in poor child development
L
Therefore this research i.a.i.p.o.a.p when explaining the formations of att in the real world
P
(animal bias)
However, some may argue the usefulness of this prac app may be limited as harlows research can be criticised for animal bias as it uses rhesus monkeys to investigate attachment
E
this is potentially a problem as human att bhv may be more complex than animal att bhv as human emotions are more sophisticated towards their infants than animals
L
- therefore there are issues extrapolating the findings of harlows research into att for humans
- however as the research used rhesus monkeys, some may argue that primates are similar to humans due to the evolutionary theory, therefore results can infactt be extrapolated.
P
(ethical issues)
Moreover, Harlows study raises ethical issues due to the harm the monkeys suffered.
E
The monkeys suffered greatly in the future as a result of Harlows procedures. They had emotional and social issues and some died early in life.
L
- therefore limiting harlows research
- however Harlow argued the importance of the findings outweighed the distress of monkeys at the time of his research as important prac apps were created
