AO1

• What was the aim of Harlow’s research?

  To investigate the role of food and comfort in attachment
• What was Harlow’s procedure?

  • Two rhesus monkeys were paired with 2 mother surrogates- a plain wire monkey dispensing food, and a cloth covered monkey with no food. Time spent was recorded.
  • In fear condition a noisy mechanical toy was put in the cage, who it ran to was recorded. The long term effects were also recorded eg. Sociability and relationship with offspring
• What were Harlow’s findings?

  More time was spent with the cloth-covered monkey meaning the monkeys sought comfort when frightened
• What were Harlow’s conclusions?

  • Attachment develops through contact comfort rather than food
  • An attachment must form within 90 days or there will be negative long term consequences such as becoming less sociable and even killing their offspring