A theorist exploring the Early Years Harry Harlow

A theorist exploring the Early Years Harry Harlow

Harry Harlow: The Man Behind the Experiment Harry Harlow is a psychologist who received a B. A. and Ph. D. from Stanford University. n University of Wisconsin, where he established a Psychology Primate Laboratory. n He began to study the different mannerisms of love. n This experiment may have been derived from Harlow’s own experience as an infant as he was often alienated from his mother. n

Harry Harlow (1905 -1981) n He believed by studying primates, psychologists would gain a better understanding of human behaviour. n He believed infants formed an attachment to those who provided them with nourishment (food).

n So he designed an experiment to find the answer to this important question: Which urge is stronger: 1. the need for love 2. or the satisfaction of physical needs (specifically, food)?

The Surrogate Mother Experiment

The Surrogate Mother experiment n He used rhesus monkeys because – their similarities to human infants’ behaviours with their mothers (for example, clinging, “language” learning, nursing) n He removed the young monkeys from their mothers before they had a chance to bond and kept them isolated

The “mothers” The monkeys were kept in a cage with two “mothers”, both made of a wire mesh. n Mother 1: – Covered with a tan coloured terry cloth (very soft and comfortable); n Mother 2: – the other offered food in the form of a bottle from its breast area, but only a wired frame. n n Both mothers were warmed with radiant heat.

Observations n n n The monkeys preferred the cloth mother, even though she did not provide food. They spent significantly more time with the cloth mother. Monkeys would go to the wire mother food, but always returned to cloth mother. When they were anxious, the monkeys would cling to the cloth mother. The monkey would rather stay with the cloth mother for comfort rather than the wire mother food.

Video Food or security?

Conclusions Infants depend on their caregivers for more than just their physical needs – meeting emotional needs is crucial for attachment. n Children in early years would expect a warm and caring mother, similarly to the cloth mother. n Monkeys that did not receive affection early in life often experienced psychological problems later on (such as misdirected aggression or abusive mothers). n VIDEO Watch 1. 24 minutes)

Conclusions n When the cloth mother was removed – the monkeys were frantic. – After it was given back, their connection intensified. n Children need their mother’s comfort like in the experiment. n Once children are attached to their mother, they can’t live without her.

Video Scaring the monkey: Intensifying Love

n Harlow’s findings – disproved predictions by reinforcement theorists that love is a secondary or a derived drive associated with the reduction of hunger/thirst. n Findings and The Study of Love – Staying Power of Love- Proved this by removing some infants from their cloth surrogates for five months. § The reunion of those monkeys revealed that deprivation has intensified the tie to the “mother”. – Contact comfort could be provided by either mother or father. – This idea is widely accepted now, but was revolutionary in the time that Harlow lived. – He stated that nursing strengthened the mother-child bond because of the intimate body contact that it provided. main IDEAS

n n Children & Harlow's research, – insight on behaviours of abused children, – improved methods of giving care to institutionalized children, – allowed fathers and adoptive parents to feel confident in providing parental care. Many studies that followed have offered evidence – that the attachment of human children to their caregivers goes far beyond a desire for biological needs to be fulfilled. n Children, just like monkeys, would also turn to their mother for comfort and security. n If they are left by themselves they might not feel comfortable and safe and start to scream or cry. Impact of Early Years in the Long Term

n Social isolation rendered by infants from their mothers can cause them to behave socially incompetent in the future. n Affection towards children is not merely a sentimental gesture; it serves many purposes for normal childhood development. n More attention should be devoted to the experimental research of love. n Earliest mother-child attachment data makes it obvious that contact comfort is a variable of overwhelming importance in the development of the affection response. n In society there is a great importance of emotional support, affection, and love in the development of children. Theory Application to Family + Society

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