AO3

• theoretical value

  P: Harlows findings have had a profound effect on psychologists understanding of human mother-infant attachment

  E: Most importantly harlow showed that attachment does not develop as a result of being fed by a mother figure but as a result of contact comfort

  E: Harlow also showed us the importance of the quality of early relationships for later social development

  L: This included the ability to hold down adult relationship and rear children
• practical value

  P: the insight into attachment from harlows research has important practical applications

  E: For example it has helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and so intervene to prevent it (Howe 1998)

  E: Of course these findings are also important in the care of captive monkeys

  L: We now understand the importance of proper attachment figures for baby monkeys in zoos and also in breeding programmes in the wild
• ethical issues

  P: Harlow faced severe criticism for the ethics of his research

  E: These monkeys suffered greatly as a result of his procedures. This species is considered similar enough to humans to generalise the findings, so the suffering was presumably quite human like

  E: Harlow himself was aware of the suffering he caused- he referred to the wire mothers as iron maidens after a medieval torture device

  L: The counter argument is that harlow research was sufficiently important to justify the effects