Harry Harry HarlowHarlow

A theorist A theorist exploringexploring

the the

Early Early YearsYears

Harry Harlow: The Man Harry Harlow: The Man Behind the ExperimentBehind the Experiment

Harry Harlow is a psychologist who Harry Harlow is a psychologist who received a B.A. and Ph.D. from received a B.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University. Stanford University.

University of Wisconsin, where he University of Wisconsin, where he established a Psychology Primate established a Psychology Primate Laboratory. Laboratory.

He began to study the different He began to study the different mannerisms of love.mannerisms of love.

This experiment may have been This experiment may have been derived from Harlow’s own derived from Harlow’s own experience as an infant as he was experience as an infant as he was often alienated from his mother. often alienated from his mother.

Harry Harlow (1905-1981)Harry Harlow (1905-1981) He believed by studying He believed by studying

primates, psychologists primates, psychologists would gain a better would gain a better understanding of human understanding of human behaviour.behaviour.

He believed infants formed He believed infants formed an attachment to those who an attachment to those who provided them with provided them with nourishment (food). nourishment (food).

So he designed an experiment to So he designed an experiment to find the answer to this important find the answer to this important question: question:

Which urge is stronger: Which urge is stronger:

1.1. the need for love the need for love

2.2. or the satisfaction of physical needs or the satisfaction of physical needs (specifically, food)?(specifically, food)?

The Surrogate The Surrogate Mother Mother

ExperimentExperiment

The Surrogate Mother The Surrogate Mother experimentexperiment

He used rhesus monkeys becauseHe used rhesus monkeys because– their similarities to human infants’ their similarities to human infants’

behaviours with their mothers (for example, behaviours with their mothers (for example, clinging, “language” learning, nursing)clinging, “language” learning, nursing)

He removed the young monkeys from He removed the young monkeys from their mothers before they had a chance their mothers before they had a chance to bond and kept them isolatedto bond and kept them isolated

The “mothers”The “mothers” The monkeys were kept in a The monkeys were kept in a

cage with two “mothers”, both cage with two “mothers”, both made of a wire mesh.made of a wire mesh.

Mother 1:Mother 1:– Covered with a tan coloured Covered with a tan coloured

terry cloth (very soft and terry cloth (very soft and comfortable); comfortable);

Mother 2:Mother 2:– the other offered food in the the other offered food in the

form of a bottle from its form of a bottle from its breast area, but only a wired breast area, but only a wired frame . frame .

Both mothers were warmed with Both mothers were warmed with radiant heatradiant heat..

ObservationsObservations The monkeys preferred the cloth The monkeys preferred the cloth

mother, even though she did not mother, even though she did not provide food.provide food.

They spent significantly more They spent significantly more time with the cloth mother.time with the cloth mother.

Monkeys would go to the wire Monkeys would go to the wire mother for food, but always mother for food, but always returned to cloth mother.returned to cloth mother.

When they were anxious, the When they were anxious, the monkeys would cling to the cloth monkeys would cling to the cloth mother. mother.

The monkey would rather stay The monkey would rather stay with the cloth mother for comfort with the cloth mother for comfort rather than the wire mother for rather than the wire mother for food.food.

VideoVideo

Food or Food or security?security?

ConclusionsConclusions

Infants depend on their caregivers Infants depend on their caregivers for more than just their physical for more than just their physical needs – meeting emotional needs is needs – meeting emotional needs is crucial for attachment. crucial for attachment.

Children in early years would expect Children in early years would expect a warm and caring mother, similarly a warm and caring mother, similarly to the cloth mother.to the cloth mother.

Monkeys that did not receive Monkeys that did not receive affection early in life often affection early in life often experienced psychological problems experienced psychological problems later on (such as misdirected later on (such as misdirected aggression or abusive mothers). aggression or abusive mothers).

VIDEO

Watch 1.24 minutes)

ConclusionsConclusions When the cloth mother was When the cloth mother was

removed removed – the monkeys were frantic. the monkeys were frantic. – After it was given back, their After it was given back, their

connection intensified. connection intensified.

Children need their mother’s Children need their mother’s comfort like in the experiment.comfort like in the experiment.

Once children are attached to their Once children are attached to their mother, they can’t live without her.mother, they can’t live without her.

VideoVideo

Scaring the Scaring the monkey: monkey: Intensifying LoveIntensifying Love

main main IDEAS IDEAS

Harlow’s findingsHarlow’s findings– disproved predictions by disproved predictions by

reinforcement theorists that love reinforcement theorists that love is a secondary or a derived drive is a secondary or a derived drive associated with the reduction of associated with the reduction of hunger/thirst.hunger/thirst.

Findings and The Study of LoveFindings and The Study of Love– Staying Power of Love-Staying Power of Love- Proved this Proved this

by removing some infants from by removing some infants from their cloth surrogates for five their cloth surrogates for five months. months. The reunion of those monkeys The reunion of those monkeys

revealed that deprivation has revealed that deprivation has intensified the tie to the intensified the tie to the “mother”.“mother”.

– Contact comfort could be provided Contact comfort could be provided by by either either mother or fathermother or father. .

– This idea is widely accepted now, This idea is widely accepted now, but was revolutionary in the time but was revolutionary in the time that Harlow lived.that Harlow lived.

– He stated that He stated that nursingnursing strengthened the mother-child strengthened the mother-child bond because of the intimate body bond because of the intimate body contact that it provided.contact that it provided.

Impact Impact of of Early Early Years Years in the in the Long Long Term Term

Children & Harlow's research, Children & Harlow's research, – insight on behaviours of abused children,insight on behaviours of abused children,– improved methods of giving care to improved methods of giving care to

institutionalized children, institutionalized children, – allowed fathers and adoptive parents to allowed fathers and adoptive parents to

feel confident in providing parental care.feel confident in providing parental care.

Many studies that followed have offered Many studies that followed have offered evidence evidence– that the attachment of human children that the attachment of human children

to their caregivers to their caregivers goes far beyond a desire for goes far beyond a desire for biological needs to be fulfilled. biological needs to be fulfilled.

Children, just like monkeys, would also turn to Children, just like monkeys, would also turn to their mother for comfort and their mother for comfort and security.security.

If they are left by themselves they might not If they are left by themselves they might not feel comfortable and safe and start to scream feel comfortable and safe and start to scream or cry.or cry.

Theory Theory ApplicatiApplicati

on toon to Family Family

+ + SocietySociety

Social isolation rendered by infants from Social isolation rendered by infants from their mothers can cause them to their mothers can cause them to behave socially incompetent in the future.behave socially incompetent in the future.

Affection towards children is not merely a Affection towards children is not merely a sentimental gesture; it serves sentimental gesture; it serves many purposes for normal childhood many purposes for normal childhood development.development.

More attention should be devoted to theMore attention should be devoted to the

experimental research of love.experimental research of love.

Earliest mother-child attachment data Earliest mother-child attachment data makes it obvious that makes it obvious that contact comfort is a variable of contact comfort is a variable of overwhelming importance in the overwhelming importance in the development of the development of the affection response.affection response.

In society there is a great importance of In society there is a great importance of emotional support, emotional support, affection, and love in the development of affection, and love in the development of children.children.

THE ENDTHE END