Harlow's Studies on Dependency in Monkeys

Summary

This script describes a psychological experiment observing baby monkeys' attachment to 'wire' and 'cloth' mothers. Despite being nursed by the wire mother, the babies showed a strong preference for the cloth mother for comfort. When frightened, they sought the cloth mother, indicating a deep emotional bond. The experiment also highlighted the importance of physical contact for a baby's sense of security and its impact on behavior, such as exploration and curiosity.

Takeaways

• 🐒 **Wire Mother Experiment**: The script describes an experiment involving a monkey raised with both a wire mother and a cloth mother.
• 🤔 **Preference for Cloth Mother**: Despite being weaned on a wire mother, the baby monkey prefers the cloth mother, indicating a preference for comfort.
• ❤️ **Importance of Contact Comfort**: Contact comfort is found to be of significant importance, overshadowing other variables including nursing.
• 👶 **Attachment as Love**: The script suggests that a baby's attachment to its mother can be considered a form of love, providing a sense of security.
• 😱 **Fear and Comfort**: When frightened, the baby monkey seeks out its mother for comfort, indicating a strong emotional bond.
• 🔬 **Experimental Apparatus**: The experiment uses an apparatus designed to frighten the monkey, simulating a stressful situation.
• 🏃 **Reaction to Fear**: The baby monkey's reaction to fear is to run to its mother, showing a natural instinct for seeking safety.
• 👾 **Diabolical Apparatus Effect**: The baby monkey's fear response to the 'diabolical' apparatus is used to study its emotional reactions.
• 🧠 **Change in Personality**: Contact with the mother changes the baby monkey's behavior, reducing fear and promoting exploration.
• 🌍 **New Environment Anxiety**: A new and strange environment can cause fear in baby monkeys, similar to human children.
• 🆚 **Comparison of Mothers**: The script contrasts the ineffectiveness of the wire mother in providing comfort with the positive impact of the cloth mother.

Q & A

What was the primary focus of the experiment with the monkeys?

The experiment focused on understanding the importance of contact comfort in infant monkeys, particularly comparing the preference for a wire mother versus a cloth mother.

How much time did baby monkey 106 spend with the wire mother and the cloth mother daily?

Baby monkey 106 spent less than one hour a day with the wire mother and the majority of the day, 21.7 hours, with the cloth mother.

What was the unexpected finding regarding the variable of contact comfort?

The variable of contact comfort was found to be of such significant importance that it overshadowed all other variables, including nursing.

What did the researchers predict about the preference of the baby monkeys for the cloth mother?

The researchers predicted that the baby monkeys would prefer the cloth mother due to creature comfort, similar to how a human baby would prefer a blanket.

How did the baby monkey react when frightened in the experiment?

When frightened, the baby monkey ran to its mother for comfort, and upon contact, the fear disappeared and was replaced with a sense of security.

What apparatus was used to frighten the baby monkey during the experiment?

The apparatus used to frighten the baby monkey included flashing eyes, loud sounds, and moving mechanical parts.

What was the purpose of the six-foot square room with toys and objects?

The room was designed to create a new and strange environment for the baby monkeys to observe their reactions and behaviors when placed in unfamiliar surroundings.

How did the baby monkey behave when placed in the strange room without its mother?

The baby monkey entered the room cautiously, appeared disturbed, and searched for comfort, indicating fear and unease.

What was the difference in behavior when the wire mother was placed in the room with the baby monkey?

The wire mother, despite having nursed the baby monkey, did not help much and did not provide the comfort the baby monkey needed.

What happened when the cloth mother was placed in the room with the baby monkey?

The baby monkey rubbed against the cloth mother, seeking contact comfort, which helped build up its reservoir of affection and security, leading to relaxation and exploration of the environment.

What does the experiment suggest about the nature of love in infant monkeys?

The experiment suggests that love in infant monkeys is associated with the feeling of security and comfort provided by their mothers, rather than just the act of nursing.