Harlow Monkey Research Flashcards
What did Harlow want to investigate
Harlow used rhesus monkeys to see if attachments are primarily formed through food
What was the methodology of Harlow research
8 baby monkeys
2 model mothers, one wire that provided food and one cloth that didn’t provide food
Newborn baby’s were separated from their mothers and raised in isolation cages
The babies were placed into distressing situations to see which mother they preferred
What were the results of Harlow research
On average the infant moneys spent 18 hours a day with the cloth mother and only 2 hours on the wire mother
Why were the results this way
Monkeys have an innate unlearn need for contact comfort suggesting that attachment concerns emotional security rather than food
Additionally for reassurance and security when frightened
Evaluation: practical value
Harlow’s research contributed to understanding the critical role of early attachments in social development. His findings helped establish that early emotional bonds are crucial for healthy psychological and social functioning, which influenced theories of attachment and developmental psychology.
Also helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and abuse so intervene and prevent it (Howe 1998)
Evaluation: ethical issues
Harlow’s research raised significant ethical concerns, as the monkeys were subjected to isolation and separation from their mothers, causing them considerable distress. The long-term psychological damage inflicted on the monkeys, including social and behavioral issues, has been heavily criticized for the harm it caused to the animals.
Evaluation: limited generalisability
The study was conducted on rhesus monkeys, which are not the same as humans. As a result, it can be argued that the findings may not be fully applicable to human attachment behaviour and therefore don’t represent human attachment, as humans have more complex cognitive and emotional needs, making it difficult to generalize Harlow’s findings to human infants.
