studies

• Harlow found that monkeys preferred cloth mothers over wire mothers, suggesting that physical contact was important for attachment.
• Harlow found that infant monkeys preferred a cloth mother over wire mothers, suggesting that physical contact was important for attachment.
• Harlow's study on the importance of comfort


  1. Rhesus monkeys developed stronger attachments to a cloth surrogate than a wire surrogate

  2. Monkeys clung to cloth surrogate when exposed to fearful stimuli
• Harlow's further research showed that food may still be a significant factor in developing attachments
• Harlow (1951) argued that something like imprinting occurs in humans
• Harlow's study supports the idea that we have evolved a need to attach, and that social and emotional development might be damaged if an attachment isn't formed