Harlow

• What type of animal did Harlow use in his attachment research?

  Rhesus monkeys
• Why were rhesus monkeys a good choice for Harlow's attachment research?

  They are similar to humans
• What did Harlow's 1958 experiment aim to test regarding infant attachment?

  A soft object serves functions of a mother
• According to Harlow, what factor greatly improved survival rates for isolated newborn monkeys in bare cages?

  Having something soft to cuddle
• How many baby monkeys were used in Harlow's (1958) experiment?

  16
• What were the two conditions in Harlow's experiment with wire model 'mothers'?

  Plain-wire vs. cloth-covered mother dispensed milk
• Which 'mother' did the baby monkeys prefer to cuddle in Harlow's experiment?

  Cloth-covered mother
• Where did the monkeys seek comfort from when frightened in Harlow's study?

  The cloth-covered mother
• What was more important to the monkeys than food regarding attachment behaviour?

  Contact comfort
• What did Harlow's research reveal about the long-term effects of maternal deprivation on monkeys?

  It had permanent effects
• Which monkeys were the most dysfunctional as adults in Harlow's maternal deprivation study?

  Those reared with plain-wire mothers
• Did monkeys reared with a cloth-covered mother develop normal social behaviour?

  No, they were more aggressive and less sociable, and bred less
• What maternal behaviours did some deprived monkeys exhibit towards their young?

  Neglect and attack
• What did Harlow conclude about the critical period for attachment formation in monkeys?

  90 days
• According to Harlow, what happens if a mother figure is not introduced within the critical period?

  Attachment is impossible
• According to Harlow, what is the state of damage caused by early deprivation after the critical period?

  Irreversible
• What is one real-world application of Harlow's research?

  Understanding child development risk factors
• What does Harlow's research help social workers and clinical psychologists understand?

  Lack of bonding is a risk factor
• What can social workers and clinical psychologists do as a result of understanding risk factors from Harlow's research?

  Intervene to prevent poor outcomes
• How has Harlow's research benefited baby monkeys in zoos and breeding programs?

  Understanding importance of attachment figures
• Is the value of Harlow's research purely theoretical?

  No, it is practical
• What is one limitation of Harlow's research?

  Generalisability to humans
• Why might it be inappropriate to generalize Harlow's findings to humans?

  Human brains are more complex
• What is a primary ethical concern regarding Harlow's research?

  It caused distress to the monkeys
• Despite ethical concerns, what justifies Harlow's research?

  Important theoretical and practical applications
• In Harlow's (1958) experiment, what did one wire mother provide in one condition?

  Milk
• According to Howe (1998), who has Harlow's research helped?


  Social workers and clinical psychologists