The Study of Harlow’s Monkeys

PS124

Kaplan University

The Study of Harlow’s Monkeys

Infant monkeys separated at birth from their mothers, locked in a cage with nothing but either a “cloth mother” a “wired mother” or no mother. The purpose of this experiment by Harlow was to understand human relationships (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012). The earliest social environment is the attachment of an infant and a mother, this experiment demonstrated how love can impact a young life (Myers 2014).

During the experiment Harlow gave an orphan monkey a thin white cloth that became that monkeys only companion, when this cloth was removed for cleaning the monkey would become upset. Harlow than decided to let the monkey choose between the cloth mother, which gave the monkey comfort or a wired mother which gave the monkey food. During this test the monkey quickly ran to the wired mother to obtain a little bit of food, than he quickly ran to the cloth mother to obtain comfort (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012). Harlow than conducted another test, whom will the monkey run to when frightened? During this assessment the monkey was in a cage with access to a cloth and wired mother, Harlow attached a box with a handcrafted mechanical robot, which made a lot of noise and movement. The infant monkey quickly became startled and ran to the cloth mother wanting comfort, while seeking comfort within the cloth mother the monkey cried loudly (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012).

Now, what if a monkey has no mother? How will that monkey behave when frightened? Who will that monkey run too? No one, the orphaned monkey that did not receive a wired or cloth mother, when frightened the monkey did not run to either one of the mother’s. Instead the monkey stayed in their own little world. This experiment showed that it is crucial for children to receive love and comfort, and would choose nurture over sustenance (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012). Children whom do not receive love and comfort would become isolated, and have a hard time forming healthy relationships throughout life (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012).

While nature is genetically acquired, nurture is attained through interactions with the environment (Myers 2014). Within Harlow’s study I believe that both nature and nurture was demonstrated, nurture most defiantly. The monkeys were placed in multiple situations, they had to choose between a mother that fed that them but could not provide comfort, or a mother that could comfort them but could not feed them (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012). When frightened they would run to the cloth mother in need of comfort and love. Infants receive nurture from their mother, infants whom do not receive nurture become secluded in their own little world, for example, during Harlow’s experiment he placed a monkey alone, with no mother, when frightened that monkey did not run he just stayed put, Harlow discovered after awhile of not receiving nurture that monkey became depressed and deranged, refusing to eat and soon died from starvation (Muslim 2014). While conducting more tests Harlow would try to take a monkey out of isolation and reunite the monkey with other normal monkeys but the monkey stayed distant (Muslim 2014). I believe Harlow showed that infants whom do not receive nurture from their mother or caretaker during this vital stage of development, they have difficulty forming healthy relationships with different kinds of people as they grow (Harlow’s Monkeys 2012).

Observational Learning is to learn by observing others (Myers 2014). I do feel that Harlow’s Monkey experiment demonstrated observational learning. The monkeys were not observing other monkeys, or human behaviors. They were not learning anything from observing the cloth or wired mother. The monkey’s had nothing to observe and learn from. Harlow on the other hand, conducted many tests with the monkeys so that he could observe their behavior throughout multiple situations and compare them with a Childs development throughout the earliest social environment. Harlow believed with his observations of the monkeys and their behavior he has shown how damaging it can be for an infant without love.

Was Harlow’s Monkey Experiment Ethical or Unethical? Following the American Psychological guidelines (APA) I would have to say I feel that this experiment was unethical. APA rules state that researchers must guarantee the ‘comfort, health and humane treatment of animals, and minimize infection, illness and pain’ (Myers 2014). In Harlow’s experiment, the monkeys were not comforted, some monkeys were not healthy and the monkeys were alone which caused stress, emotional distress and behavior disorders. More tests that were ran by Harlow such as the raping rack, where monkeys would rape female monkeys, is torture (Muslim 2014). Although the information received from the study, may be beneficial to human development, the study was unethical and did not follow APA guidelines.

References

2012. Harlow’s Monkeys. September 17th. Accessed August 22nd, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O60TYAIgC4.

Muslim, Kristine Ong. 2014. “The Wire Mother.” http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=0a767cd1-9196-49e4-9489-b917a39ca606%40sessionmgr4010&hid=4103.

Myers, G. David. 2014. “Exploring Psychology 9th Edition.” Worth Publishers .