Harlow, 1958

Flowchart nodes

• Harlow, 1958

• Aim: To investigate the mechanism by which new born monkeys bond to their mothers.

• 8 monkeys were separated from their mothers immediately after birth and placed in cages with access to two surrogate mothers, one made of wire and one covered in soft terry towelling cloth. 

• Four of the monkeys could get milk from the wire mother and four from the cloth mother.

• The animals were studied for 165 days.

• Both groups of monkeys spent more time with the cloth mother (even if she had no milk).

• The infant would only go to the wire mother when hungry. Once fed, it would return to the cloth mother for most of the day.

• If a frightening object was placed in the cage the infant took refuge with the cloth mother (its safe base). 

• This surrogate was more effective in decreasing the youngster's fear.

• Found that the separated infant monkeys would show attachment behaviours towards a cloth-covered surrogate mother when frightened, rather than food-dispensing surrogate mothers.

• Monkeys were willing to explore a room full of novel toys when the cloth-covered surrogate mother was present but displayed phobic responses when only the food-dispensing surrogate was present.

• Evaluation

• One strength of this research is that it has told psychologists a lot about infant-parent attachments. Harlow showed that attachment does not develop as a result of being fed by a mother but as a result of contact comfort. He also showed the importance of the quality of early relationships for later social development.

• Harlow's research has great value, bringing practical applications to society; practically in the field in social work. Harlow's study helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and abuse and so intervene to protect it.