Harlow

• Harlow showed comfort is important in attachment
• Harlow studied the need for contact comfort
• Harlow aimed to find out whether baby monkeys prefer a source of food or a source of comfort and protection for an attachment figure
• Harlow - Need for contact comfort - Method

  Lab experiment

  Monkeys raised in isolation

  Had 2 surrogate mothers (one made of wire mesh and had a feeding bottle, other made of cloth but didn't feed)
• Harlow - Need for contact comfort - Findings

  • Monkeys spent most time clinging to cloth monkey
  • Only went to wire monkey to feed
  • Cloth monkey was comforting in new situation
• Harlow - Need for contact comfort - Findings after monkeys grew up

  • Signs of emotional and social disturbance
  • Females were bad mothers
  • Violent to offspring
• Harlow - Need for contact comfort - Conclusions

  • Infant monkeys formed more attachment with figure providing comfort and protection
  • Isolation affects development
• Harlow - Need for contact comfort - Evaluation (lab experiment)

  • Lab experiment = strict control of variables
  • Results unlikely affected by unknown variable
  • Lack ecological validity (weren't in natural environment)
  • Replicable
• Harlow - Need for contact comfort - Evaluation

  • Hard to generalise to humans
  • Ethical issues (Stressful situation to put an animal in)
• Harlow further research:

  Harlow and Zimmerman (1959): added fearful stimulus, was placed in the cage, monkey would cling to the cloth surrogate before exploring object

  Monkeys in cage with only a wire surrogate remain frozen or run wildly

  Strong attachment with primary caregiver important
• Harlow further research:

  Harlow and Sumoi (1970): investigated other factors in generating a strong attachment.

  When they played a cloth surrogate with food and a cloth surrogate without food

  One with food was preferred

  Food significant to develop attachments