Harlow animal study

Question 1

What is the aim of Harlow’s monkeys study (1958)

Answer 1

To compare attachment behaviour in baby monkeys (food or comfort)

Question 2

What were the two types of mothers in Harlow’s monkey study?

Answer 2

• There were two types of surrogate mothers were constructed
• 1: A harsh ‘wire’ mother which provided food
• 2: A soft clothed mother which provided comfort

Question 3

What was the procedure in Harlow’s moneky study?

Answer 3

• used 8 baby monkeys
• studied for 165 days (longitudinal study)
• monkeys were put into a cage with both mothers, Harlow recorded how much time the monkeys spent with each mother
• the monkeys were purposely frightened by a mechanical monster to test for mother preference during stress

Question 4

What were the 3 conditions when Harlow used a larger cage?

Answer 4

1: the monkey was alone in a room with objects
2: the monkey was in the room with the wire mother
3: the monkey was in the room with a clothed mother

Question 5

Findings/results of Harlow’s monkey study?

Answer 5

• the monkeys preferred contact with the clothed mother
• the monkeys sought the clothed mother when frightened
• if there was only a wire mother, monkeys showed distress and had diarrhoea because no comfort
• monkeys explored the larger cage more if the clothed mother was present

Question 6

Conclusions of Harlow’s study

Answer 6

• the monkeys have a innate unlearned need for comfort
• attachment concerns emotional security more than food
• contact comfort is associated with lower levels of stress and a willingness to explore, indicating emotional security

Question 7

Positives of Harlow’s monkey study

Answer 7

• longitudinal - a lot of data & allows a measure of time
• supported by schaffer and emerson
• influenced ainsworth’s study
• the models were simplistic, no extraneous variables
• lab study - variables were controlled (internal validity)
• revolutionised maternity & childcare services - highlighted the importance of comfort

Question 8

Negatives of Harlow’s monkey study

Answer 8

• unethical - stress to monkeys, long lasting effects such as abnormal developed & unable to form attachments in the future
• extrapolation - cannot be generalised to humans
• can’t repeat using humans because of ethics
• confounding variable - the monkey models were unrealistic, clothed mother looked more like a real monkey but the wire monkey didn’t