Harlow's Monkey Experiment & Attachment Theory

This video explains psychologist Harry Harlow's famous monkey experiments and how they helped develop attachment theory in developmental psychology.

In the late 1950s, Harlow conducted a series of experiments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that explored how social development influences learning in infant rhesus monkeys. In one infamous experiment, Harlow placed newborn monkeys in a cage with two inanimate mothers - one made of wire that dispensed food, and one covered in soft terrycloth that didn't dispense food. He found that the infants spent most of their time clinging to the soft terrycloth mother for comfort, even though they got their food and drink from the wired mother.

This demonstrated the infants’ need for contact comfort and security from their caregiver, rather than just nourishment. It provided evidence that relationships are critical for an infant's development. Without warmth and comfort from their caregiver, the baby monkeys failed to develop normally.

Harlow's discoveries challenged behaviorist theories of the time, which suggested that learning was based primarily on reinforcement and punishment, with little inherent need for social bonding. His research contributed significantly to the development of attachment theory by psychologists like John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth.

Attachment theory proposes that a strong emotional bond forms between infant and caregiver that is critical for normal social and cognitive development. This video explores Harlow's experiments and their importance in shifting perspectives in developmental psychology to understand the influence of relationships on children's well-being and ability to form social and emotional connections.

Outline:
00:00:00 Harlow's Monkey Experiment
00:00:54 Unveiling the Findings
00:01:50 Link to Attachment Theory
00:02:54 Significance and Controversies